plate no. 9800
The soup eaters
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a dimly lit interior and capturing the textures of clothing and stone. It's a good exercise in understanding tonal values and creating a sense of depth through subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the main elements of the interior.
- step 02
Establish the overall tonal values with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' clothing and the surrounding environment, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Start building up the details of the faces and hands, using subtle color variations to create form.
- step 05
Add texture to the clothing and the stone walls using dry brush techniques.
- step 06
Refine the details of the fireplace and the pots, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth colors with black and white. Use small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue to create subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·dry brush
- ·tonal painting
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Losing the overall tonal harmony of the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for better blending and layering of colors. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the underpainting process.
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