plate no. 4300

On the Balcony

Alexandre Jacovleff, 1936

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresbalconybuildingwindowwatermelonrailing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice painting figures in a relaxed pose and capturing the subtle color variations in skin tones. It will also provide experience in rendering architectural details with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the balcony structure.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background wall and the sky visible through the window.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and clothing colors for the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the railing, using a mix of blues and browns to create the metallic effect.
step 05
Add details to the faces and clothing, refining the shapes and adding highlights and shadows.
step 06
Paint the watermelon and the small details like the flowers on the balcony.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches to enhance the painting's mood and atmosphere.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix white with small amounts of umber and ochre for the walls. Use ultramarine and white for the sky. Create skin tones by mixing red, yellow ochre, umber, and white. Adjust the proportions to achieve different skin tones.

techniques

·blocking in
·scumbling
·broken color
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Making the railing too uniform and lacking depth.
→Not establishing a clear light source and creating inconsistent shadows.