plate no. 7101

Os retirantes

Candido Portinari, 1944

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigureslandscapeskypovertyfamily

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting human figures with expressive gestures and understanding how to create a somber mood through color and brushwork. It will also help in learning how to create texture and depth with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted colors, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with dark, earthy tones.
step 04
Begin adding details to the figures, focusing on the skeletal features and expressive faces.
step 05
Develop the clothing and textures using visible brushstrokes and layering of colors.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the background and add details such as the birds and landscape elements.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall color balance to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of secondary colors. Use white to lighten values and black to darken them. Payne's gray can be used to create subtle variations in the sky and shadows.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·layering
·chiaroscuro
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the somber mood.
→Ignoring the proportions of the figures, leading to anatomical inaccuracies.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·ivory black oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium
·retouch varnish

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better adhesion of the paint and to enhance the visible brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color and simplify the painting process.

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