plate no. 7662

Underground Railroad

William H. Johnson, 1945

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)symbolic paintingfiguresportraitsunderground railroadhistorical eventsboatshorses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplified portraiture, color blocking, and creating a narrative through symbolic imagery. It also encourages exploration of texture and expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the overall composition, dividing the canvas into sections for the portraits and narrative elements.
step 02
Block in the background color with a neutral tone.
step 03
Begin painting the portraits, focusing on simplified shapes and color variations for skin tones.
step 04
Add details to the clothing and accessories of the figures.
step 05
Paint the narrative elements (boats, horses, etc.) using simplified shapes and bold colors.
step 06
Add details to the narrative elements, such as figures in the boats and on horseback.
step 07
Define the outlines of the shapes with darker colors to enhance contrast.
step 08
Add final touches and details to the painting, paying attention to the overall balance and composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · cadmium yellow medium · ultramarine blue · magenta

Mix various skin tones by blending raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red light. Create muted tones by mixing complementary colors.

techniques