plate no. 8295

The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

pencil, paperOrientalismsketch and studyfigureswallarchitectureJerusalemMiddle East

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal washes and creating depth through layering. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a loose, suggestive style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Apply a diluted wash of raw umber or burnt sienna to the entire paper to create a warm undertone.
step 03
Begin layering washes to establish the darker areas of the wall and figures, gradually building up the tones.
step 04
Use a slightly darker wash to define the individual blocks of the wall and add shadows.
step 05
Add details to the figures using a fine brush or pencil, focusing on the folds of their garments.
step 06
Use a dry brush technique to create texture on the wall and ground.
step 07
Add final highlights with a clean, damp brush to lift color and create contrast.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · payne's gray

Achieve the various tones by diluting the primary colors with water. Use ivory black sparingly to darken shadows. A touch of Payne's gray can add coolness to the shadows.

techniques