plate no. 7186

Zinc

Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, 1917

oilCubismreligious paintingfiguretextabstractgeometric shapesreligiousadvertisement

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in abstract composition, color mixing for muted tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with layering and juxtaposing different elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and compositional elements, focusing on their relative positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and darkest tones.
step 03
Begin layering colors, paying attention to the subtle variations within each shape.
step 04
Add the figure and text elements, focusing on their shapes and outlines.
step 05
Build up texture by applying paint with visible brushstrokes, varying the direction and pressure.
step 06
Refine the edges of shapes and add details, such as the eye and smaller geometric forms.
step 07
Adjust the overall balance of color and value to match the original painting.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the texture and depth.

color palette

primary · red · green · black · white

secondary · yellow · blue · brown

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white or black to adjust the value. Experiment with layering different colors to create depth and complexity.

techniques