plate no. 9552

People of Derbent

Israel Tsvaygenbaum, 1999

oilMagic Realismgenre paintingfiguresvillagebuildingsanimalslandscapedaily life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding color relationships to create a harmonious, slightly muted palette. It also encourages exploration of stylized figure drawing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures, buildings, and animals.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, figures, and buildings using thinned paint.
step 03
Gradually build up the colors, adding layers to create depth and subtle variations.
step 04
Define the shapes of the figures and buildings with slightly darker tones.
step 05
Add details such as facial features, clothing folds, and architectural elements.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes to create a sense of softness and blending.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of light.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the colors, values, and details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · titanium white

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of black and white. Use yellow ochre as a base for the background and mix it with burnt sienna and red for the figures and buildings.

techniques

·color blocking
·layering
·dry brushing
·blending
·simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original painting.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Struggling with the proportions of the figures.
→Not creating enough depth in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw umber, cadmium red, ivory black, titanium white)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags