plate no. 7949

My Work Room, Cassel

William Orpen, 1917

oilPost-Impressionisminteriorinteriorbedroombedfurnitureobjectstextiles

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in depicting a complex scene with simplified shapes and colors. Recreating it will help students practice color mixing and capturing the essence of objects rather than precise details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of major objects.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the larger objects like the bed and floor.
step 03
Establish the basic values (light and dark) within each color area.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and add details, paying attention to how light interacts with the objects.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create depth and interest.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form of the objects.
step 07
Refine the brushstrokes to match the visible texture in the original painting.
step 08
Step back and make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · raw sienna

Mix various shades of white with small amounts of other colors to create the off-white tones. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the wooden furniture and floor. Mix greens and blues for the background and smaller details.

techniques