plate no. 7159

Children in La Berrada (now Berrada, Morocco)

oil, canvasOrientalismportraitfigureschildrenclothingarchitecturejugportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes and atmospheric perspective.

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 and proportions of the figures and the background elements.
step 02
Establish the main value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle color variations and highlights.
step 04
Develop the clothing, carefully rendering the folds and patterns with appropriate brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the background architecture, using soft edges and muted colors to create depth.
step 06
Add details to the jug, including the floral patterns and highlights.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Create shadows by adding blue or black to the skin tone mixture. Achieve the red hues by mixing cadmium red with a touch of umber for darker shades.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unrealistic.
→Ignoring the importance of edges and transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw sienna, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags
·palette knife