plate no. 3218

Saltimbanques

Rupert Bunny, 1930

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)genre paintingfiguresinteriorperformancetextilespropsflowers

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, capturing dynamic poses, and understanding how to depict complex patterns and textures. It also offers practice in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and fabric hues.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and their poses, paying attention to proportions and placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background elements, including the curtain and the floor, using simplified shapes and colors.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones of the figures, focusing on the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing and props, such as the hula hoop, bowls, and fan.
step 05
Carefully render the patterns on the curtain, breaking them down into manageable sections.
step 06
Refine the facial features of the figures, paying attention to their expressions.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and dimension of the painting.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a cohesive feel.

color palette

primary · ochre · purple · white · brown

secondary · green · blue · red · gold

Achieve skin tones by mixing ochre, white, and small amounts of red and brown. Create the curtain patterns by mixing various blues, greens, reds, and golds, and layering them to create depth.

techniques

·figure drawing
·color layering
·pattern rendering
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the initial sketch, leading to confusion later.
→Getting lost in the details of the patterns before establishing the overall composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a garish appearance.
→Neglecting the subtle variations in skin tone, making the figures look flat.