plate no. 2425

Painting of a tennis court Castle Guernon Ranville

Edouard Vuillard, 1907

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigurestennis courtgardentreesbuildingsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes and learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It also provides an opportunity to study color mixing to achieve nuanced skin tones and fabric textures.

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 figures, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Start with the darkest values, gradually adding lighter tones to create depth.
step 04
Define the figures with more detail, paying attention to the folds of the clothing and facial features.
step 05
Add the tennis court lines and other details in the background.
step 06
Refine the brushwork, using short, broken strokes to create texture and movement.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the figures and objects.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making final adjustments as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · viridian

Mix white with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt sienna for the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of yellow ochre for the clouds. Mix greens from ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow.

techniques