plate no. 4136

The loves of souls

oilDivisionismgenre paintingcemeteryfiguresgrieflandscapeheadstonesnight

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and creating a somber mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and headstones.
step 02
Establish the dark background and sky with broad strokes of dark browns and blues.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with dark values, paying attention to the folds of the clothing.
step 04
Begin layering the ground with greens, browns, and reds, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Add highlights to the headstones and figures to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Introduce the lantern and flowers, focusing on capturing the glow and color variations.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall mood and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · sap green · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white sparingly to maintain the somber mood. Mix greens with browns and reds to create natural variations in the grass.

techniques