plate no. 3980

Woman and girl from Constantine with a gazelle

oilOrientalismgenre paintingfiguresgazelleclothinginteriordraperyportraits

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, depicting fabric folds, and creating a sense of depth through layering and glazing. It also provides practice in capturing subtle skin tones and textures.

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 gazelle.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and red.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures and the gazelle, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the forms and create depth.
step 05
Pay close attention to the drapery, using highlights and shadows to define the folds.
step 06
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of the figures.
step 07
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the turbans and jewelry.
step 08
Glaze the painting with thin layers of color to unify the composition and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Create the gold fabric by mixing yellow ochre with burnt sienna and white, glazing with thin layers of raw sienna.

techniques