plate no. 9350

The old men

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingfigureslandscapetreesautumnclothingfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and capturing the texture of clothing and foliage with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing muted and naturalistic color palettes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the background by blocking in the sky and distant trees with broad strokes.
step 03
Roughly define the shapes of the figures, focusing on their posture and proportions.
step 04
Start building up the details of the clothing, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Add details to the faces, paying attention to the light and shadow to create form.
step 06
Develop the foreground foliage, using a variety of colors and brushstrokes to suggest depth and texture.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a sense of harmony.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix muted greens and browns by combining earth tones with small amounts of blues and yellows. Achieve the grays in the clothing by mixing white with small amounts of black and umber.

techniques