plate no. 4763

Retirantes

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresfamilypovertysunrefugeeswalking

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, expressive mark-making, and creating a somber mood through limited color palette and strong value contrasts. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes and use hatching and cross-hatching for shading.

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 and placement of the figures, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the position of the sun.
step 03
Block in the background with the orange and gray tones, leaving some areas unpainted for highlights.
step 04
Begin adding details to the figures, using charcoal or dark paint to define the contours and features.
step 05
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create shadows and volume on the figures' clothing and bodies.
step 06
Add highlights with white or light gray to create contrast and depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the faces and hands, paying attention to the expressions.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

primary · burnt orange · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · gray

Mix burnt orange with white to create lighter shades for the background and figures. Use ivory black and white to create various shades of gray for shading and details.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·limited palette

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Not establishing a strong value contrast, resulting in a flat and lifeless image.
→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong, leading to an unnatural appearance.
→Using too many colors and creating a distracting palette.