plate no. 1422

Garden Restaurant

August Macke, 1912

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresgardenrestauranttreesclothingarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve vibrant hues and in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and forms. It will also help in understanding how to create depth through color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and architectural elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the background (trees, sky) and foreground (ground, tables).
step 03
Start defining the figures with darker values, focusing on the shadows and outlines.
step 04
Add highlights to the figures and architectural details to create contrast and form.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces and clothing, using smaller brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce secondary colors to add depth and complexity to the palette.
step 07
Adjust the overall balance of colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and touches to enhance the painting's vibrancy.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Yellow · Alizarin Crimson · Ivory Black

secondary · Burnt Sienna · Yellow Ochre · Viridian

Mix greens by combining Prussian Blue and Cadmium Yellow. Achieve browns by mixing Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow, and Ivory Black. Use white to lighten colors and create tints.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken Color
·Color layering
·Scumbling
·Simplification of form

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.
→Not achieving enough contrast between light and dark areas.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Ivory Black, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Viridian)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags