plate no. 5649

Back Room

John French Sloan, 1912

oil, canvasNew Realismgenre paintinginteriorfiguresfireplacetablewindowportraits

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of a limited palette to create mood and atmosphere, and how to suggest detail in areas of low light. Students will also learn how to create a sense of depth using value and atmospheric perspective.

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 figures, table, window, and fireplace.
step 02
Establish the overall dark value of the background and the lighter values of the window and foreground.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with dark blues and browns, paying attention to the light source from the window.
step 04
Add the warm glow of the fireplace using reds, oranges, and yellows, blending them softly into the surrounding dark areas.
step 05
Refine the details of the figures, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Paint the details of the objects on the walls, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the reflections in the window and the texture of the walls.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the mood.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix dark blues and browns for the background and figures. Use white to create highlights and lighter values. Mix reds and yellows for the fireplace glow.

techniques