plate no. 9106

Reverie

oil, panelRealismgenre paintingfigureinteriorwindowcityscapeplantchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting light and shadow in an interior scene, as well as creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. Students will also practice rendering fabric and textures with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the main elements (figure, chair, window, cityscape).
step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up the details of the figure and chair, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the background, including the window and cityscape, using looser brushstrokes and a more muted palette.
step 05
Add details to the plant and other foreground elements.
step 06
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 07
Add final details and highlights.
step 08
Let dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt sienna, raw umber, and white. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the browns and create shadows. Mix greens with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue.

techniques