plate no. 6309

Sailor with Basket

Jose Gutierrez Solana, 1930

charcoal, pastel, pencil, paperExpressionismportraitportraitsailorboatswaterbuildingsbasket

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with simplified values. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through color and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and proportions of the figure, boats, and buildings.
step 02
Establish the darkest values with charcoal or dark pencil, focusing on the figure's features and clothing.
step 03
Apply a base layer of color using pastels, starting with the dominant colors like red for the jacket and green for the water.
step 04
Build up layers of color, blending and layering to create subtle variations and depth.
step 05
Use darker pastels or charcoal to define shadows and add contrast.
step 06
Add details to the face, clothing, boats, and buildings, using finer lines and smaller strokes.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · red · green · black · white

secondary · brown · yellow · blue

Mix greens by blending yellow and blue pastels. Achieve darker shades by layering black or brown over other colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques