plate no. 6205

A Garden in Corfu

John Singer Sargent, 1909

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapegardentreesfigureseaarchitectureflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to capture light and atmosphere. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, trees, and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and sea, then the trees and foliage.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the figure and the architectural details.
step 04
Develop the foliage with loose, broken brushstrokes, using a variety of greens, yellows, and browns.
step 05
Add details to the figure's dress and the flowers, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 06
Refine the architectural elements, such as the steps and planters, with careful observation of their forms and textures.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · sap green

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with varying amounts of white. Use burnt sienna and alizarin crimson to create warm browns for the shadows and architectural elements.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the foliage.
→Failing to capture the light and shadow patterns accurately.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, sap green, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow light)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags