plate no. 4105

Snake Charmer at Tangier, Africa

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfiguresarchitecturecourtyardmarketfoliagecarpet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in shadow and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of different materials with loose brushwork.

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 figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, paying attention to the warm and cool light.
step 04
Develop the figures, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Add details to the architecture and surrounding environment, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the edges and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the figures and focal point.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall mood.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · raw sienna

Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and viridian green sparingly to create cool shadows and atmospheric effects.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and unconvincing image.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Neglecting the importance of edges and transitions, which can make the painting look disjointed.