plate no. 1416

Open Door, Brittany

oilImpressionisminteriordoorinteriorwalllandscapefieldsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve subtle variations and learn to suggest form with visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in simplifying a scene to its essential elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the door, walls, and landscape seen through the opening.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the yellow-brown of the interior wall, the blue-grey of the exterior wall, and the colors of the landscape.
step 03
Start defining the door frame with white, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the landscape, suggesting the field and sky with horizontal brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the colors and values in the interior, adding depth and dimension.
step 06
Use short, visible brushstrokes to create texture and interest throughout the painting.
step 07
Add the dark lines defining the edges of the door and walls.
step 08
Check the overall balance of the painting and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green

Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the various shades of the interior walls. Use cerulean blue and white for the exterior wall, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix sap green and yellow ochre for the field.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
→Failing to capture the subtle light and shadow.
→Getting the perspective of the door and walls incorrect.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·yellow ochre
·titanium white
·cerulean blue
·burnt umber
·sap green
·assorted brushes

optional

·palette knife
·painting medium
·easel

Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Oil paints will provide richer colors and blending capabilities, but acrylics are a good option for beginners.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein