plate no. 6383

Courtyard with Washing

John Bratby, 1956

oilSocial Realismcityscapecourtyardbuildingsfigureslaundrybrickstreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing light and shadow with a limited color palette. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of major shapes like the buildings, figures, and laundry lines.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the darkest values in the shadows.
step 03
Establish the brick texture of the buildings using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on capturing their gestures.
step 05
Paint the laundry, using a variety of white and off-white tones to suggest form and texture.
step 06
Refine the details, such as the windows, doors, and bicycle.
step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and values.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the various brick tones by mixing burnt sienna with raw umber and small amounts of cadmium red. Create the off-white tones for the laundry by mixing titanium white with small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre.

techniques