plate no. 3547

A beggar boy with basket

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigureboybasketclothingstickstool

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as creating depth through subtle value changes. Students can also learn about depicting different materials like wood, fabric, and skin.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
step 02
Establish the dark background using thin washes of dark brown and black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and basket with mid-tone values.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin paint to build up color and value.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to folds and textures.
step 06
Paint the basket, focusing on the woven pattern and highlights.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, sienna, and small amounts of red and blue. Use umber and black for shadows. Add yellow to sienna for highlights on the basket.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·rendering textures

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, leading to muddy tones.
→Ignoring the subtle value changes in the skin tones.
→Getting lost in the details before establishing the overall composition.
→Using too much paint, resulting in a thick and overworked surface.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags