plate no. 0076

Blue Courtyard, Arenys de Munt

Santiago Rusinol, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapecourtyardarchitecturegardentreesflowersfishbowl

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly for creating nuanced blues and pinks, and in capturing the effects of light and shadow on various surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting foliage and architectural details with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

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 perspective of the courtyard and the placement of major elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the dominant blues and pinks.
step 03
Begin layering in variations of color within each area, paying attention to the effects of light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 05
Refine the architectural details, such as the edges of the walls and the shapes of the planters.
step 06
Add the details of the fishbowl and the flowers.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to achieve a harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber

Achieve the various blues by mixing ultramarine with white and small amounts of other colors like crimson or umber to adjust the tone. Mix pinks by blending alizarin crimson with white, and adjust the warmth with a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques