plate no. 3855

In a Park

Tove Jansson, 1935

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfiguresparktreesbuildingsstrollerchildren

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create form and texture. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition: buildings, trees, figures, and stroller.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, background greenery, and ground.
step 03
Establish the basic values and colors of the buildings, using simplified geometric forms.
step 04
Begin defining the figures with simple shapes and muted colors, paying attention to their poses.
step 05
Add details to the stroller, focusing on its structure and color variations.
step 06
Refine the trees and foliage with varied brushstrokes and subtle color changes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to unify the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt sienna. Achieve the flesh tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red, and a small amount of yellow ochre. Use raw umber to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques