plate no. 5225

The child death

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingstill lifedollflowerscandlesfiguretable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting textures and rendering light on various surfaces. It also provides practice in creating a focal point within a complex composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the doll, candles, and figure.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the background, table cloth, and the figure's clothing.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
step 04
Begin to build up the details of the doll, including the ribbons, flowers, and facial features.
step 05
Paint the candles and the light reflecting off the glass domes.
step 06
Add the details of the flowers in the foreground.
step 07
Refine the details of the figure, paying attention to the facial expression and the folds of the clothing.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · white · gray · red · blue

secondary · yellow · green · brown

Mix various shades of gray by combining white with small amounts of black, blue, and brown. Achieve the red and blue hues by mixing primary colors and adding white for lighter tones.

techniques