plate no. 8696

Sunday Afternoon

oilContemporary Realismgenre paintingfigurescouchpillowsbooksinteriorsleeping

some experience helpful

This painting provides an opportunity to practice rendering skin tones and fabric textures with soft blending. Students can also learn about creating depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the dark and light areas with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the background, couch, and figures.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Develop the fabric textures of the couch and pillows, using dry brush techniques for highlights.
step 06
Add details to the faces, hands, and clothing, refining the shapes and values.
step 07
Paint the books and other objects in the background, paying attention to their relative values.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or burnt umber. Achieve darker values by adding small amounts of black or burnt umber to the primary colors.

techniques