plate no. 3611

Soldiers and Peasants, Cassel

William Orpen, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsfiguresstreetskysoldierstown

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, as well as practice loose brushwork to capture the texture of the buildings and figures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the main building's yellow facade.
step 03
Mix and apply the various shades of yellow and green for the building, paying attention to the subtle shifts in tone.
step 04
Add the darker tones for the shadows and details of the windows and doors.
step 05
Paint the figures, using loose brushstrokes to suggest their forms and clothing.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and figures, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add the details of the street and the surrounding buildings, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · titanium white · cadmium red light

Mix yellow ochre with small amounts of ultramarine blue to create the muted greens and grays. Use burnt umber to darken shadows and add depth. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques