plate no. 6217

A Woman Scraping Parsnips, with a Child Standing by Her

oilBaroquegenre paintingfiguresinteriordomestic scenefoodwindowtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create depth using subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering realistic figures and still life elements within a dark, atmospheric setting.

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 the placement of the figures and key objects.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures and objects with mid-tone values.
step 04
Begin to build up the highlights on the figures and objects, paying attention to the light source from the window.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces and hands, using small brushstrokes to create realistic textures.
step 06
Add the details of the clothing and objects, such as the parsnips and the colander.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · red oxide · Prussian blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing browns and blacks with small amounts of yellow ochre, red oxide, and blue. Use white to create highlights and lighter values.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and color.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, red oxide, Prussian blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags