plate no. 8859

Bench

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapegardenbenchflowerstreespathfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow in a garden setting and practice impressionistic brushwork to create texture and depth. Students will also learn how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, including the bench, path, and major foliage masses.
step 02
Block in the sky and ground with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth.
step 04
Begin adding details to the foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the bench, paying attention to the way light hits its surfaces.
step 06
Add the flowers, using small dabs of color to suggest their forms.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of realism.

color palette

primary · sap green · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjust with white. Create variations in foliage by adding small amounts of red or burnt umber to the green mixture. Achieve the path color by mixing yellow ochre, white, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques