plate no. 4835

Baby in a Pram in a Garden

John Bratby, 1956

oilExpressionismgenre paintingbabypramgardenbuildingsbrick wallfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to represent textures like brick and foliage. It also encourages observation of light and shadow to create depth in a complex scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the pram, buildings, and figure.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, buildings, brick wall, and ground using thin washes.
step 03
Begin adding thicker paint layers to define the brick texture, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Develop the pram and baby, paying attention to the folds in the blanket and the baby's features.
step 05
Add details to the garden, using various shades of green and yellow to create depth and texture.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, windows, and roof, using darker colors to create shadows.
step 07
Add highlights to the pram, baby, and foliage to create a sense of light and dimension.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, and texture.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · viridian · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and red for the brickwork, using white to lighten and blue to darken. Greens are achieved by mixing blues and yellows, with touches of brown for earthiness.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·dry brush
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the brick texture, resulting in a flat or uniform appearance.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow, making the painting look dull.
→Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.
→Using too much paint, resulting in a muddy or overworked appearance.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, raw umber, viridian, cadmium red light, ivory black)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags