plate no. 6319

Conference At Night

Edward Hopper, 1949

oil, canvasNew Realismgenre paintingfiguresinteriorofficelightshadowfurniture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict light and shadow realistically and how to create a sense of mood through color and composition. It also provides practice in rendering figures and architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of figures and furniture.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns, noting the strong contrast between illuminated and shaded areas.
step 04
Refine the shapes of the figures and furniture, adding details and adjusting proportions.
step 05
Mix and apply the subtle color variations within each area, using layering and blending techniques.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay attention to the edges of shapes, softening or hardening them as needed to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ultramarine blue, raw umber, and white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the browns and create the color of the furniture. Black is used sparingly for the darkest shadows.

techniques