plate no. 6065

Siblings on the roof terrace

oil, canvasImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresflowersterracecityscapeskypots

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes, as well as simplifying complex scenes into impressionistic forms. It also provides practice in painting figures in a loose, expressive style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, flower pots, and the distant cityscape.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, ground, buildings, and the figures' clothing, using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the sky with subtle variations in blue and white, blending the colors softly.
step 04
Add details to the cityscape, using small, broken brushstrokes to suggest the buildings and foliage.
step 05
Work on the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow on their faces and clothing.
step 06
Paint the flower pots and flowers, using thicker paint and more vibrant colors.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting, refining the shapes and adding interest.
step 08
Let it dry and add varnish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · raw umber

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the ground and buildings, adding touches of other colors to create variation. Mix white with small amounts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue to achieve the pinks and purples in the flowers.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·alla prima
·Impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a harsh, unnatural look.
→Failing to capture the light and shadow accurately.
→Not simplifying the background enough

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, viridian green, raw umber)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags