plate no. 0533

Moroccan Women

oilOrientalismgenre paintingwomenmarketarchitecturefiguresfoodcity

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing loose watercolor washes and expressive line work. Recreating it will help students develop skills in capturing figures in motion and suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and architectural elements, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Apply a light wash of yellow ochre to the background, allowing it to dry.
step 03
Paint the sky with a diluted blue wash, blending it softly.
step 04
Add the base colors to the women's clothing and the conical structures they carry, using diluted washes.
step 05
Define the architectural details with a thin brush and diluted brown watercolor.
step 06
Use darker washes to create shadows and depth on the figures and objects.
step 07
Add details with pen and ink, outlining shapes and adding texture.
step 08
Refine the colors and values, adding final touches to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

secondary · green · red · white

Mix yellow ochre with a touch of burnt sienna for the walls. Dilute the colors significantly for the washes. Use white sparingly to maintain the transparency of the watercolor.

techniques