plate no. 9966

Summertime

Walter Osborne, 1901

oilImpressionismgenre paintingchildrenfigurestreesgardengrassfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing natural light and shadow, as well as rendering figures in a loose, impressionistic style. Students will also learn to mix subtle color variations to create depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and the basic shapes of the trees and foliage.
step 02
Establish the overall composition and proportions.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin to refine the figures, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the foliage, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Develop the background, suggesting depth with variations in color and tone.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and volume.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve the greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with varying amounts of white. Use burnt umber and white for shadows. Mix cadmium red with white for the children's clothing.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the subtle shifts in light and shadow.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the figures.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.