plate no. 8608

Sereia

Alfredo Volpi, 1960

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)mythological paintingmermaidseafiguremythologycrescentshair

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and understanding color relationships to create a cohesive composition. It's also a good exercise in layering and creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mermaid, crescents, and overall composition lightly on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a base layer of blue, allowing for some variation in tone.
step 03
Paint the mermaid's body with white, defining the arms and torso.
step 04
Add the mermaid's hair with brown, using short, textured brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the mermaid's tail with green, blending slightly to create depth.
step 06
Add the white and green crescents, paying attention to their placement and orientation.
step 07
Refine the details of the mermaid's face and hands.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · viridian green

secondary · burnt umber

Mix different shades of blue by adding white or a touch of umber. Achieve the green tail color by mixing viridian green with a touch of white and blue.

techniques

·flat color application
·dry brush texture
·layering
·simplified shapes
·color blocking

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the shapes and details.
→Using too much detail in the background.
→Not allowing the paint to dry between layers.
→Making the colors too uniform and flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Acrylic or oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, viridian green, burnt umber)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Flat brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Water or solvent (depending on paint type)