plate no. 8019

Mystic Allegory or Tea

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigurestea setinteriortableclothingbook

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve specific tones and practice layering colors to create depth and form. It also provides an opportunity to explore simplified forms and stylized representation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the background and largest shapes.
step 03
Develop the skin tones by layering different shades of yellow, green, and brown.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, using thin lines to create texture and pattern.
step 05
Paint the tea set and other objects, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
step 06
Refine the facial features and add highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add the final details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Consider adding a thin glaze to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · viridian

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre with small amounts of raw umber and white. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red light for the reddish accents. Mix viridian with yellow ochre to create the greenish hues.

techniques