plate no. 8426

Sketch of Burning Corpses of Russes

pencil, watercolorRomanticismsketch and studyfigureportraitclothingjewelryhistoricaltraditional dress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering, creating soft edges, and capturing subtle variations in skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in rendering details like jewelry and clothing embellishments.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the figure's outline and major features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Apply a thin, diluted wash of a neutral color (e.g., raw sienna) to establish the overall tone and shadows.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with light washes and gradually building up darker areas.
step 04
Paint the clothing with light washes of white, adding subtle hints of color for shadows and folds.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the jewelry and embellishments, using fine brushes and precise strokes.
step 06
Add darker accents and details to enhance the contrast and definition.
step 07
Refine the background with soft washes of color to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Achieve skin tones by mixing raw sienna, alizarin crimson, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and payne's gray for shadows. Create the gold tones by mixing yellow ochre with touches of burnt umber.

techniques