plate no. 6058
Afternoon Tea (aka On the Terrace)
Eva Gonzales, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape setting and capturing the subtle color variations in light and shadow. It's also good practice for creating depth using atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, and background elements.
- step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the background, figure's dress, and the table.
- step 03
Begin refining the figure's form and features, paying attention to the light and shadow on the dress.
- step 04
Add details to the table and the objects on it.
- step 05
Develop the background, using lighter values and softer edges to create depth.
- step 06
Paint the flowers with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the overall color harmony and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red · sap green
Mix blues and whites for the dress, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the ground. Mix reds and greens for the flowers, varying the proportions for different shades.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
- ·implied detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, which can flatten the image.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#8 filbert brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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