plate no. 7621

Niño Con Helado

Maria Blanchard, 1925

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigurestreetice cream cartarchitecturehatfood

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in perspective and rendering architectural elements with simplified forms. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve the muted tones and subtle gradations of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, cart, and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and pavement.
step 03
Establish the basic values (light and dark) on the figures and cart.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes and details of the figures, paying attention to proportions and anatomy.
step 05
Add details to the ice cream cart, including the awning, wheels, and decorative elements.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adding subtle gradations and highlights.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the facial features, clothing details, and the hat on the ground.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and color balance to achieve a cohesive and harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · sap green

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining black, white, and umber. Use yellow ochre and white to create the light tones of the pavement. Add small amounts of red and blue to the grays to create subtle color variations.

techniques