plate no. 7757

Cutting the rice

Romualdo Locatelli, 1939

oil, canvasOrientalismgenre paintingfiguresfieldharvestricelandscapechildren

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting light and shadow in a field environment and capturing figures within a landscape. It also encourages the use of expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main compositional elements: the figures, the horizon line, and the general areas of light and shadow.
step 02
Establish the base color of the field using a mid-tone yellow ochre.
step 03
Block in the darker areas of the field with a mix of burnt umber and yellow ochre, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the rice.
step 04
Add highlights to the field using a lighter yellow, mixed with white, focusing on areas where the light is hitting the rice.
step 05
Paint the figures, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights. Use short, broken brushstrokes to blend the colors and create a sense of form.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures and the field, adding small touches of color and texture to create visual interest.
step 07
Add the background elements, keeping them soft and blurred to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Review and adjust the values and colors to create a harmonious and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve variations in the field by mixing yellow ochre with burnt umber for shadows and titanium white for highlights. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to darken shadows and create subtle color shifts.

techniques