plate no. 7501
Birds of a feather
Émile Auguste Hublin, 1867
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic skin tones, fabric textures, and capturing subtle variations in light and shadow. It also provides practice in depicting complex forms and creating a sense of depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the main elements.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
- step 03
Develop the background and surrounding details, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
- step 04
Begin building up the form of the girl, focusing on accurate skin tones and facial features.
- step 05
Add details to the chicken, capturing its texture and form.
- step 06
Refine the clothing, furniture, and other elements, adding details and textures.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue for subtle variations. Mix greens for the vegetables using cadmium yellow and ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Overworking details before establishing the overall composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a pre-primed canvas to save time.
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