plate no. 7466

Security guard reading newspaper at the staircase

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguredogbuildingnewspaperstreetarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a realistic setting and understanding how to use a limited palette to create a sense of atmosphere. It also provides practice in rendering textures like stone and fabric with watercolor.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background washes, starting with the lightest tones and gradually building up darker values.
step 03
Paint the figure, starting with the skin tones and then moving onto the clothing, using thin washes of color.
step 04
Add details to the building and architectural elements, using a fine brush to create texture and definition.
step 05
Paint the dog, paying attention to the fur texture and color variations.
step 06
Add the newspaper, focusing on the highlights and shadows to give it form.
step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches, such as shadows and highlights.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix raw umber and ultramarine for the grays of the building. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the warmer tones in the figure's clothing. Add cadmium red light to burnt sienna for the red accents.

techniques