plate no. 6735

Oriental Street Scene

oilOrientalismgenre paintingstreet scenearchitecturefiguresmarketMiddle Eastcamel

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, rendering figures in a crowd, and capturing the texture of old buildings. It also provides practice in mixing a range of earth tones and creating a sense of depth through color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the main architectural elements and figure placement.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Establish the sky and the general color of the buildings, working from light to dark.
step 04
Add details to the architectural elements, paying attention to the play of light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the figures, starting with the larger shapes and then adding details.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the atmospheric perspective as needed.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights and textures, to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Step back and evaluate the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the sky and cooler shadows. Add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the browns.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective of the buildings wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated or bright.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·palette knife

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·mahl stick

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for broken color effects. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., a light raw umber wash) to establish a base tone.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein