plate no. 4348

Retrato de Almada Negreiros

Nikias Skapinakis, 1958

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingberetcigarette

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through value contrast. Students will also learn to simplify forms and capture likeness with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted green color.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and hands using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Paint the clothing with broad strokes of black, leaving some areas slightly lighter to suggest form.
step 05
Add the red vest and white collar, paying attention to the shapes and folds.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details such as the beret and cigarette.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · black · white · red · green

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Create the dark background by mixing black and green. Mute the red vest by adding a touch of raw umber.

techniques