plate no. 9567

Bibliothek

Franz Sedlacek, 1939

oilExpressionismgenre paintingbookshelffigureparrotlibrarywindowcarpet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice creating depth through atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures like the bookshelf. It also provides an opportunity to study color temperature and light interaction.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, bookshelf, and parrot.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the dark background, the red carpet, and the yellow parrot.
step 03
Begin adding details to the bookshelf, painting individual books with varying colors and values.
step 04
Refine the figure, paying attention to the highlights and shadows on the clothing and face.
step 05
Add details to the parrot, using highlights to create a sense of form.
step 06
Paint the light source from the window, adding subtle highlights to the floor and surrounding areas.
step 07
Add final details and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · titanium white

Achieve the dark background by mixing ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. Create the various book colors by mixing the primary colors with white and black. The parrot is primarily yellow ochre with highlights of pure yellow.

techniques