plate no. 6861

The older sister

oilAcademicismgenre paintingfigurechildrenchickenstepsbowlfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering skin tones and facial features, as well as understanding how to create depth through layering and glazing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of figures.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures, using simplified color values.
step 04
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces, focusing on capturing the expressions.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and other elements, such as the bowl and chicken.
step 07
Glaze over the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create dark shadows.

techniques