plate no. 3951

The Beggar

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguredoorwaychildflowersbuildingbeggar

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering textures of clothing, and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective and subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the figures and the doorway.
step 02
Establish the main light source and block in the large shapes with thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the background and doorway, focusing on the subtle color variations and textures.
step 04
Begin to build up the forms of the figures, starting with the beggar and then the child.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, face, and hands of the beggar, paying attention to the wrinkles and textures.
step 06
Refine the details of the child's face and clothing, capturing her expression and pose.
step 07
Add the finishing touches, such as the flowers and the details of the doorway.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors and values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of the secondary colors. Use thin glazes to build up the color and create subtle variations.

techniques