plate no. 6929

Portrait of Fidel Castro

Oswaldo Guayasamin, 1961

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms and using expressive brushstrokes to convey emotion. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth with limited color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, beard, and shoulders, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a light gray wash, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the darkest areas of the hair, beard, and clothing with dark brown and green.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red, applying paint in distinct strokes.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and clothing, using lighter shades of the base colors.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the angular forms.
step 07
Add final touches to the background, softening some edges and adding subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a layer of varnish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · viridian

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Darken colors with burnt umber or black. Achieve the green by mixing viridian with yellow ochre.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to capture the angularity of the forms.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·odorless mineral spirits

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·rags
·apron

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Acrylics are faster drying and easier to clean up, while oils offer more blending time.

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