plate no. 9323

Girl at a Sewing Machine

Edward Hopper, 1921

oil, canvasNew Realismgenre paintingfigureinteriorsewing machinewindowlightroom

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict light and shadow in an interior space and how to capture the mood of a scene through color and composition. Students will also practice painting figures in a realistic style.

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 the figure, sewing machine, and window.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background wall and the window.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the wall and the figure.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the figure, sewing machine, and other objects in the room.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the light and shadow areas.
step 06
Add the final details, such as the highlights on the sewing machine and the texture of the fabric.
step 07
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.
step 08
Make any necessary adjustments to the colors, values, or details.

color palette

primary · cadmium orange · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix cadmium orange with white for the lighter areas of the wall. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create the darker tones in the shadows. Add a touch of yellow ochre to the orange for a warmer hue.

techniques

·blocking in
·scumbling
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Making the colors too saturated or unrealistic.
→Failing to capture the subtle light and shadow patterns.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of unity.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (cadmium orange, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags