plate no. 5412

Portrait of Carlos Pellicer

Diego Rivera, 1942

oil, panelSocial Realismportraitportraitfiguremansuittieface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and understanding how light and shadow define form. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of personality through subtle details.

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 head, shoulders, and suit.
step 02
Block in the background with a flat layer of blue paint.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of skin tone colors.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle curves and angles of the nose, mouth, and eyes.
step 05
Paint the suit and tie, focusing on the folds and creases that define the fabric.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the suit to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Blend the edges of the shapes to create a smooth transition between colors.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to achieve a realistic and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red

Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white, with small amounts of red or blue to adjust the warmth or coolness. The green tie is a mix of viridian green and yellow ochre.

techniques