plate no. 8114

The Flea-Catcher (Boy with his Dog)

oil, canvasBaroquegenre paintingboydoginteriorchairhattable

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in rendering realistic skin tones and textures, as well as creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. Students will also learn to depict fabric folds and the anatomy of a dog.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of brown and gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the boy, dog, and objects.
step 04
Begin refining the values and details in the face and hands.
step 05
Develop the textures of the clothing, fur, and wooden surfaces.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and depth.
step 07
Refine the details and edges, softening where necessary.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker shades of the clothing and background.

techniques