plate no. 3005

The Onion Sellers

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguresonionsbuildingsstreetmarketclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering form with loose brushstrokes and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in painting figures in a realistic style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background buildings with broad strokes of color, focusing on the overall values.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the figures, using dark tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 04
Begin to define the shapes of the onions, using a variety of reddish-brown hues.
step 05
Add details to the figures' faces and clothing, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Refine the background details, adding windows and other architectural elements.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and realistic effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix burnt umber and yellow ochre for the warm tones of the buildings. Use a combination of burnt umber, ivory black, and ultramarine blue for the darker areas. Mix cadmium red and burnt umber for the onions.

techniques