plate no. 9802

Girl Chopping Onions

oilBaroquegenre paintingfigureinterioronionskitchenwarechildfood

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic skin tones, drapery, and still life elements under dramatic lighting conditions. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones of the figures, paying close attention to subtle color variations.
step 04
Develop the drapery and clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 05
Paint the still life elements, such as the onions and kitchenware, with careful attention to detail and texture.
step 06
Refine the background and create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to enhance the realism of the painting.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of luminosity.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and ivory black to create shadows and depth. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber to create the dark background.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue, raw sienna, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife