plate no. 3941
Open Window
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how light affects color in an interior setting. It also provides practice in rendering textures and subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the window, chair, and table placement.
- step 02
Establish the dark areas of the room with a thin wash of dark brown.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the landscape seen through the window.
- step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the window frame and wall, capturing the light.
- step 05
Develop the details of the chair, paying attention to the wood grain and shadows.
- step 06
Refine the landscape details, adding branches and foliage.
- step 07
Add highlights to the curtain and other light-struck areas.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, white, and small amounts of blue or yellow. Use yellow ochre and white for the window frame and wall, adding small amounts of brown for shadows. Greens are muted, so mix sap green with raw umber.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
- →Overworking the details in the landscape, losing the atmospheric effect.
- →Making the dark areas too flat and lifeless.
- →Not capturing the subtle color shifts caused by light.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Consider using a toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of burnt umber) to establish a base tone.
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