plate no. 6194
Estaminet - Flemish Tavern
Lesser Ury, 1884
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow in an interior scene and using broken color to create texture and depth. It also provides practice in rendering figures in a dimly lit environment.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of warm browns and yellows.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
- step 04
Begin building up layers of color, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Focus on capturing the subtle variations in color and value within the shadows.
- step 06
Add details to the figures and furniture, refining the shapes and adding highlights.
- step 07
Pay attention to the edges of the forms, softening them to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
Mix browns and grays by combining the primary colors with small amounts of blue. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Creating harsh edges that detract from the overall atmosphere.
- →Ignoring the importance of the light source and its effect on the scene.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.
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