plate no. 2629

Commercial Cafe

oil, woodRealisminteriorinteriorcafewindowcityscapebuildingsplant

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for realistic lighting, and rendering reflective surfaces like glass and table tops. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere in an interior scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the interior and exterior scene.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: the walls, seating, tables, and the buildings outside the window.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows and highlights on the interior elements.
step 04
Start adding details to the cityscape outside the window, focusing on the buildings and sky.
step 05
Refine the details of the plant, paying attention to the shapes and values of the leaves.
step 06
Work on the reflective surfaces of the tables and windows, capturing the light and reflections.
step 07
Add final details and adjust the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Varnish the painting once dry to protect the surface and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue · quinacridone magenta

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

Achieve the subtle wall colors by mixing raw umber and white with small amounts of yellow ochre and magenta. Create the table top colors by mixing cerulean blue with white and touches of raw umber for the shadows. The exterior buildings use a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white.

techniques