plate no. 5428

The Insurrection

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingfigurescrowdcityscapeprotesthistorical eventbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a crowd and using a limited palette to create a sense of drama and movement. Students will also learn how to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main figure and the overall arrangement of the crowd.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of yellow and ochre, suggesting the buildings.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the figures with a mix of burnt umber and black.
step 04
Begin to define the main figure with lighter tones, using white mixed with small amounts of yellow and brown.
step 05
Add details to the faces, focusing on capturing the expressions of the figures.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of clothing and hair.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to emphasize the focal point.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · black · Prussian blue

Achieve the various skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of burnt umber and yellow ochre. Use black sparingly to create deep shadows. Mix Prussian blue with white to create the sky.

techniques