plate no. 2738

Music. Wife at the Piano

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1929

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigurepianointeriormirrorcarpetmusic

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, depicting complex interior spaces, and capturing the texture of various surfaces with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in representing figures in a dynamic pose.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, piano, and mirror.
step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Start building up layers of color, paying attention to the local color and how it is affected by light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the figure, focusing on the facial features and the folds of the clothing.
step 05
Add details to the piano and the surrounding interior, paying attention to the textures of the different surfaces.
step 06
Work on the mirror reflection, simplifying the forms and colors.
step 07
Refine the brushwork, using short, broken strokes to create texture and movement.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · titanium white

Mix various shades of brown and grey by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix blue and yellow to create greens for the carpet.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and space.
→Getting bogged down in details and losing sight of the overall composition.
→Not paying attention to the color relationships between the different elements of the painting.