plate no. 9518

Iced Coffee

Fairfield Porter, 1966

oilContemporary Realismgenre paintingfiguresinteriorchairsflowersporchwindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing natural light and depicting figures in a realistic setting. It also provides practice in rendering textures and patterns with visible brushstrokes.

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 figures and major elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 03
Develop the background, including the windows and surrounding environment.
step 04
Refine the figures, adding details to their clothing and facial features.
step 05
Paint the flowers and vase, capturing their form and texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to achieve a harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw umber

Mix various shades of green by combining ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Achieve skin tones by blending burnt sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use raw umber to create shadows and darker areas.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the light and shadows.
→Getting bogged down in the details of the flowers before establishing their overall form.