plate no. 3930

Paris. Room at Avenue de Wagram

oilImpressionisminteriorinteriorroomfurniturefireplacebedchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing light and shadow in an interior scene. It also encourages simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin with the lightest areas, such as the bedsheets and the fireplace, using diluted washes of white or very light gray.
step 04
Gradually build up darker values in the shadows and details, like the furniture and the fireplace interior, using browns and grays.
step 05
Add the colors of the chair and the objects on the mantelpiece, keeping the colors muted and transparent.
step 06
Define the edges of the objects and add details with a smaller brush, using darker values.
step 07
Pay attention to the light and shadow patterns to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and details, such as the patterns on the chair and the objects on the mantelpiece.

color palette

primary · raw sienna · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix browns and grays by combining raw sienna, burnt umber, and ultramarine blue. Use diluted washes to achieve transparency and build up values gradually.

techniques