plate no. 9048
Portrait of Mario de Andrade
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with non-traditional color choices in portraiture.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 03
Start layering colors within the face, using visible brushstrokes to define form.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the background with short, directional brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Adjust colors and values as needed to achieve the desired effect.
- step 08
Add final details like the glasses and tie.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · violet · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix different shades of blue and white for the background. Use red, yellow, and white to create the skin tones, and mix blue and red for the suit.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·color layering
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, which can flatten the image.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·apron
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly due to their faster drying time.
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