plate no. 9668

Interior from Strandgade with Sunlight on the Floor

Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1901

oil, canvasImpressionisminteriorinteriorwindowfiguredoorlightshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand subtle value shifts and how light interacts with different surfaces. It's also a good exercise in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the room, window, door, figure, and table.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of neutral gray.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: the walls, floor, and door, paying attention to subtle value changes.
step 04
Add the window and curtains, focusing on the light filtering through.
step 05
Paint the figure and table, using darker values to create contrast.
step 06
Refine the details, such as the window panes, door panels, and the shadows on the floor.
step 07
Add the small framed pictures on the wall.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

The painting relies heavily on mixing different ratios of white, black, and umber to create a range of grays and browns. A touch of yellow ochre or burnt sienna can warm up the grays.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·value studies
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Creating too much contrast, losing the subtle mood.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the grays.
→Making the shadows too dark and flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·ivory black oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·raw umber oil paint
·burnt sienna oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·linseed oil
·assorted brushes (round and flat)

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits

Use a fine-grain canvas to achieve the smooth surface of the original painting. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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