plate no. 5592

The Merchant Captain

Jose Gutierrez Solana, 1934

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitmandeskglobebottleseashellspainting

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, still life arrangement, and rendering textures of various objects. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
step 02
Establish the background, focusing on the painting within the painting and the dark cabinet.
step 03
Block in the main values of the captain's face and clothing, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Paint the still life elements on the desk, such as the globe, bottle, and papers, focusing on their textures and colors.
step 06
Refine the details of the hands and other small objects.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red (small amount) · ultramarine blue (small amount)

Achieve the various browns and grays by mixing burnt umber, ivory black, and raw sienna with varying amounts of titanium white. Use small amounts of red and blue to create subtle color variations.

techniques

·portraiture
·still life painting
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Not capturing the textures of the various objects.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, ivory black, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags