plate no. 9980

Passage À Bou Saada

oilOrientalismgenre paintingarchitecturefiguresdonkeymarketlightshadow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering light and shadow on textured surfaces, as well as capturing the atmosphere of a sun-drenched scene. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within an architectural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the perspective of the buildings and the placement of the figures.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and figures with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin building up layers of color, focusing on the warm tones of the architecture and the cooler tones of the shadows.
step 05
Add details to the figures and the donkey, paying attention to their anatomy and proportions.
step 06
Refine the details of the architecture, adding texture and variations in color.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of ochre and umber with white to create the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create grays and shadows. Add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the ochre tones.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

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

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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

optional

·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·retouch varnish
·easel

Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a wash of burnt sienna) to help establish the warm tones of the painting.

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