plate no. 9159
Portrait de Martin Luis Guzman
Diego Rivera, 1915
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the portrait, focusing on the geometric forms.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with diluted paint, establishing the overall value structure.
- step 03
Begin refining the shapes and adding details to the face and clothing.
- step 04
Develop the background with layers of color and texture.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes to create a sense of clarity and definition.
- step 07
Pay attention to the color relationships between the different planes.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white. Create muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Achieve the skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red.
techniques
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·color blocking
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending colors, losing the geometric structure, neglecting value contrast, muddying the colors, inaccurate proportions
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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