plate no. 5402
Interior with the Artist's Easel
Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1910
some experience helpful
This painting is a great exercise in subtle value shifts and creating atmospheric perspective. Students will learn to mix muted tones and observe the effects of light and shadow on different surfaces.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the room, easel, and doorway.
- step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
- step 03
Begin blocking in the large areas of color with thin washes, starting with the darkest tones.
- step 04
Gradually build up the layers of paint, focusing on subtle value changes and blending.
- step 05
Pay attention to the edges of objects and soften them where necessary to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Add details such as the painting on the wall, the table, and the easel.
- step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
- step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber
Achieve the muted tones by mixing black and white with small amounts of umber and ochre. Use thin glazes to create depth and luminosity.
techniques
- ·value studies
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·soft blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much bright color and not enough muted tones.
- →Ignoring the subtle value shifts that create depth.
- →Creating harsh edges instead of soft transitions.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use a fine-grained canvas to achieve smooth blending. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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