plate no. 6648

Sunlight in Living Room

oilExpressionisminteriorinteriorfurniturelightshadowsroomvases

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict light and shadow in an interior space and how to create a sense of depth using tonal values. It also provides practice in rendering wooden surfaces and reflective objects.

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 furniture and the open doorway.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Begin blocking in the large areas of color, starting with the background walls and floor.
step 04
Develop the details of the furniture, paying attention to the wood grain and reflections.
step 05
Add the still life elements on the chest of drawers, focusing on their shapes and highlights.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details such as the door handle and the objects visible through the doorway.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and value range to match the original painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and a touch of black. Use white to create lighter tones and yellow to create highlights. Achieve the warm, glowing light by layering thin washes of yellow ochre and cadmium yellow.

techniques