plate no. 2621

La Récréation

Mily Possoz, 1930

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresflowertreesdancerslandscapechair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating tonal values using hatching and cross-hatching techniques, as well as understanding how to create depth and form with limited color. It also provides practice in depicting figures in various poses and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and major elements.
step 02
Refine the sketch, paying attention to the proportions and details of the figures and their clothing.
step 03
Begin adding value using light pencil strokes, establishing the lightest areas of the composition.
step 04
Gradually build up darker values using hatching and cross-hatching techniques, focusing on areas of shadow and form.
step 05
Pay close attention to the direction of the hatching to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing, adding subtle variations in value to create depth.
step 07
Add the background elements, such as the trees and dancers, using similar hatching techniques.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · graphite · white

secondary · none

This image is monochromatic, so the focus is on achieving different shades of gray through varying the density and layering of graphite.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·tonal shading
·contour drawing
·rendering

common pitfalls

→Applying too much pressure with the pencil, resulting in dark, flat areas.
→Not varying the direction of the hatching, resulting in a lack of volume and texture.
→Losing the proportions of the figures during the shading process.
→Overworking certain areas of the composition, resulting in a lack of balance.