plate no. 1569
Four men at a cafe
Yiannis Tsaroychis, 1927
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms and understanding basic perspective. It's also a good exercise in limited color palette painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures, table, chairs, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective grid for the tiled floor.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color: sky, background wall, and tiled floor.
- step 04
Paint the figures' suits and hats, focusing on simple shapes and values.
- step 05
Add details to the table, chairs, and trees, using darker values for shadows.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the figures and objects.
- step 07
Add the newspapers and other small details.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive composition.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · viridian · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and ivory black for the suits and shadows. Use white to lighten the colors for highlights and the sky. Mix viridian and yellow ochre for the green accents.
techniques
- ·flat washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplified shapes
- ·basic perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes of the figures.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Ignoring the perspective of the tiled floor.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper
- ·watercolor paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·pencil
optional
- ·masking tape
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use a smooth watercolor paper for best results. Consider using masking tape to create a clean edge around the painting.
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