plate no. 9854

The bird seller

oil, canvasRomanticismgenre paintingfigureschildrenbirdsbuildingswaterboats

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a realistic style, capturing atmospheric perspective, and creating a sense of depth through color and value variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch of the composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the main architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the background by painting the sky and water, paying attention to the subtle color gradations.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and boats in the background, using muted colors to create distance.
step 04
Begin to define the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
step 05
Work on the foreground, painting the stone pavement and adding details to the architectural elements.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures, including their clothing, facial features, and the birds they are holding.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Apply final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. Use glazes of transparent colors to create depth and luminosity.

techniques