plate no. 7340

Amateurs at an Exhibition

oilRomanticismgenre paintingfiguresgallerypaintingsportraitsinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth with value and how to suggest details with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in painting figures in a dimly lit environment.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the gallery wall.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a mix of dark browns and purples.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with mid-tone values, paying attention to the light source.
step 04
Add highlights to the figures, especially on their faces and hands, using lighter tones of the base colors.
step 05
Paint the framed paintings on the wall, suggesting their content with loose brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures' clothing and facial features.
step 07
Add final touches of light and shadow to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix browns with black and small amounts of blue or red to create the dark background. Use yellow ochre and white for highlights, and mix greens for the figures' clothing.

techniques