plate no. 9975

Sleeping Child

Henri Manguin, 1912

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigurelandscapevegetationcactussleeptrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve vibrant yet harmonious tones and develop skills in depicting form through light and shadow using visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the main elements of the landscape.
step 02
Establish the background colors, blending warm earth tones with hints of green and blue.
step 03
Block in the figure's form with light flesh tones, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Paint the red shirt, using variations in value to create depth and form.
step 05
Add the cacti and other vegetation, using a variety of greens and blues to capture their unique shapes and textures.
step 06
Refine the details of the figure, including the face and hands.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · red · green · ochre · white

secondary · blue · purple · brown

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing ochre, burnt sienna, and umber with white. Create the greens by mixing blues and yellows, adding touches of red for variation.

techniques