plate no. 3424

A carpet seller in a souk in the Maghreb

Gustavo Simoni, 1902

watercolor, boardOrientalismgenre paintingfiguresarchitecturecarpetsinteriormarketclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in various poses and clothing, as well as capturing the subtle light and shadow within an architectural space. It also provides practice in depicting intricate patterns and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the basic values and color washes for the background and architectural setting.
step 03
Begin layering in the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 04
Focus on capturing the folds and draping of the clothing, using subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Carefully render the faces and hands, paying attention to proportions and expressions.
step 06
Add the details of the carpets, using fine brushstrokes to create the intricate patterns.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows, adding highlights and deepening the dark areas to create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian

Achieve the various skin tones by mixing raw sienna, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red. Create the muted greens by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker shades.

techniques