plate no. 0430

Christmas Morning, Breakfast

Horace Pippin, 1945

oil, canvasNaïve Art (Primitivism)genre paintinginteriorfigureschristmas treefurniturerugsstove

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying forms and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive scene. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through layering and size relationships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition: the room, figures, furniture, and Christmas tree.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: walls, floor, figures' clothing, and the tree's basic shape.
step 03
Add details to the figures, including facial features and clothing details.
step 04
Paint the furniture and other objects in the room, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 05
Add the decorations on the Christmas tree and the details on the rugs.
step 06
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add the artist's signature.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · white · black · brown · green

secondary · red · gray · yellow

Mix white with small amounts of black, brown, or blue to create the various shades of gray for the walls. Mix primary colors to create the secondary colors for the decorations.

techniques