plate no. 1580
The scribe
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a believable space and understanding how to use a limited palette to create a sense of atmosphere. It also offers practice in capturing the texture of different materials with visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Refine the shapes of the figures and architectural elements.
- step 04
Add details to the faces and clothing, using smaller brushstrokes.
- step 05
Develop the background, suggesting the market scene with loose strokes.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the forms to create a sense of realism.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the cool grays of the architecture and floor. Use burnt sienna and white for warmer tones in the figures and clothing. Add small amounts of cadmium red to burnt sienna to achieve the red in the woman's jacket.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brush blending
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect
- →Ignoring the importance of edges
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
A medium-textured canvas will work well for this painting. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall value structure.
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