plate no. 6647

At Gennelle, Absinthe Drinker

oil, ink, canvasPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfiguretableinteriordrinkclothingbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow on skin tones and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, table, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, table, and background.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of light and shadow, using warm and cool colors.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and wrinkles.
step 06
Refine the background with short, choppy brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Add the details of the table and the glass, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using white, burnt umber, and a touch of red and yellow. Create variations in the background by mixing burnt umber with different amounts of white and raw sienna.

techniques