plate no. 4786

Nun with donkey

woodRealismgenre paintingdonkeynunbarrelsbuildingfigureshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with a limited palette and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the donkey, the nun, the barrels, and the building.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the darkest tones.
step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones and highlights, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Add details to the figures and the donkey, focusing on capturing their form and posture.
step 05
Create texture in the building and ground using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the edges and shapes, softening or hardening them as needed.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and white for the lighter tones of the figures and building. Use raw sienna and a touch of yellow ochre for the barrels. Add small amounts of black to darken the shadows.

techniques