plate no. 4139

Selling Chickens in Liguria

Henry Herbert La Thangue, 1906

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfigurechickensbuildingpathcartfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in natural light and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting a complex scene with multiple elements and figures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the figures, building, and cart.
step 02
Establish the main light source and indicate areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working towards the foreground.
step 04
Develop the details of the figures, focusing on accurate proportions and anatomy.
step 05
Add texture to the building, path, and foliage using visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 07
Add final details, such as the chickens, the cart's details, and the foliage.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · viridian

Mix various shades of white with touches of yellow ochre and raw umber to create the light tones of the dress and building. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the darker areas of the path and foliage. Add small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue to create the colors of the chickens.

techniques