plate no. 7724

Diogenes Throwing Away His Drinking Cup.

oil, canvasBaroquehistory paintingfigurestreeslandscapeskycloudshistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in dynamic poses and creating atmospheric perspective with subtle value shifts. Students will also practice creating depth through layering and manipulating light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of figures and the main tree lines.
step 02
Establish the dark background tones using a thin wash of burnt umber and black.
step 03
Block in the main light areas on the figures and the sky, using a lighter value of the background color.
step 04
Begin to refine the forms of the figures, paying attention to the drapery and anatomy.
step 05
Develop the details of the trees, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add highlights to the figures and the sky to create a sense of drama.
step 07
Glaze over areas to unify the colors and create depth.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the umbers, black, and white in varying proportions. Use small amounts of yellow ochre or raw sienna to warm up the shadows. Add a touch of ultramarine blue to cool down the highlights.

techniques