plate no. 1617

Peasant family

Rafael Zabaleta, 1957

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitfiguresportraitsfamilyclothingchairsplates

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, color mixing to achieve skin tones, and using visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also encourages simplification of forms into geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the three figures and their chairs onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for each figure and the background, focusing on overall tones rather than details.
step 03
Begin refining the shapes of the figures, paying attention to the angles and lines that define their forms.
step 04
Mix and apply the skin tones, using a limited palette and focusing on subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, faces, and hands, using visible brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Paint the background elements, such as the plates and the wall, using simplified shapes and colors.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance, making sure that the figures are well-integrated into the scene.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · sap green

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark greens and blacks. Add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up skin tones and greens.

techniques

·Blocking in
·Visible brushstrokes
·Simplified forms
·Limited palette
·Color mixing for skin tones

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting bogged down in realism
→Ignoring the overall composition
→Using too many colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, sap green, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
·Round brushes (sizes 4, 6, 8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags

optional

·Medium gloss
·Easel
·Apron

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette of oil paints to simplify the color mixing process.

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