plate no. 0746

Two women with a child in court

oil, panelBaroquegenre paintingfiguresarchitecturecourtyarddomestic scenebrickbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict figures in a believable space using light and shadow, and how to create a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the main architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark and light areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the architectural details, paying attention to the perspective of the brickwork and the buildings in the background.
step 04
Develop the figures, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details to the faces and clothing.
step 05
Mix and apply the local colors for the figures, buildings, and ground, adjusting values and hues to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the textures of the brick and the folds in the clothing.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · vermilion · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth pigments with small amounts of blue and white. Use glazes of raw umber to create depth and shadow.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, ivory black, vermilion, ultramarine blue, titanium white)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags