plate no. 2870

Girl with a Dog in the Park at Grand Lemps (also known as Dauphine)

Pierre Bonnard, 1900

oil, panelPost-Impressionismlandscapetreesgrassbuildingfigureskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into expressive brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall impression of a scene rather than focusing on precise details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, major tree trunks, and the location of the building and figure.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and white, allowing some of the underpainting to show through.
step 03
Establish the main areas of green for the grass, using varying shades and adding touches of yellow and brown.
step 04
Paint the building with a base of orange and brown, then add details like the roof tiles and windows.
step 05
Add the dark greens and browns for the trees and foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the figure with a light blue and white mix, keeping the details minimal.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · viridian green · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium orange

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create earth tones by mixing browns, oranges, and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques