plate no. 2181

Singing peasants

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)genre paintingfigurespeasantssingingaccordiontraditional clothinglandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing dynamic figures with simplified forms. It also encourages exploration of color temperature and bold color choices.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and the accordion.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of green, yellow, and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the figures' clothing with a base layer of red.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to the clothing to create volume and depth.
step 05
Define the facial features and hands with smaller, more precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the accordion with attention to its shape and details.
step 07
Refine the background and foreground with additional layers of color and texture.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · viridian green

secondary · burnt umber · black · titanium white

Mix various shades of red by adding white, black, or burnt umber. Create greens by mixing yellow ochre and viridian green. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques