plate no. 6511

Open Window

Grace Cossington Smith, 1919

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigureinteriorwindowtreesfurnitureroom

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 also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, window, and furniture.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure and interior.
step 03
Develop the color variations within each area, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the figure, such as the face and hands, and to the furniture and objects in the room.
step 05
Refine the edges and shapes, paying attention to the way the light falls on the scene.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a harmonious and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber with white for the figure's clothing and the interior walls. Use sap green and cadmium yellow for the foliage outside the window. Add touches of alizarin crimson to warm the browns and greens.

techniques