plate no. 5267

Put Down Your Whip

Xu Beihong, 1939

oilRealismgenre paintingfigurecrowdclothinglandscapevillagescarf

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex figures, capturing realistic skin tones, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting intricate patterns and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to atmospheric perspective and color variations.
step 04
Focus on the main figure, building up layers of color to create realistic skin tones and details.
step 05
Paint the clothing, carefully rendering the intricate patterns and folds.
step 06
Add details to the faces and expressions of the figures.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and add final touches to enhance the painting's realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Achieve skin tones by blending yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. Create the red scarf using cadmium red and a touch of burnt sienna for depth.

techniques