plate no. 0283

The Ramp at Puerto Chico

Jose Gutierrez Solana, 1943

oilExpressionismgenre paintingbuildingsfiguresboatswatercityscapestreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

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: buildings, figures, boats, and the pier.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the buildings.
step 03
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the sky and water.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows on the buildings and figures.
step 05
Build up the details of the buildings, using short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the figures, focusing on their gestures and clothing.
step 07
Add the details of the boats and the pier, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ochre, and white. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the sky and water. Add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the browns and grays.

techniques