plate no. 3725

Balcony by the sea

Alberto Sughi, 1995

acrylicContemporary Realismgenre paintinginteriorfigurebalconyseaskyarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting helps students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and creating depth through color and value variations. It also provides practice in rendering figures in an interior 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 figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky and sea with thin washes of blue and turquoise.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the interior walls and floor with muted grays and browns.
step 04
Add the figures, paying attention to their proportions and poses.
step 05
Develop the details of the balcony and the curtain.
step 06
Refine the values and colors, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add final details, such as the faucet and the architectural details.
step 08
Glaze with thin washes to unify the painting and adjust the overall tone.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining burnt umber with white and small amounts of blue or yellow. Achieve the sea color by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques

·dry brushing
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the interior, losing the sense of atmosphere.
→Failing to create sufficient contrast between the interior and exterior.
→Incorrect proportions of the figures.
→Using colors that are too saturated for the interior.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil

optional

·palette knife
·retarder medium
·easel

Use a canvas with a smooth surface to facilitate blending and glazing. Consider using a retarder medium to slow the drying time of the acrylics, allowing for more blending.

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