plate no. 6515

Sunlit Window in Szentendre

oilImpressionismstill lifewindowplantbookbuildingsstill lifeflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding color temperature to depict light and shadow. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the window, plant, pot, and book, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background colors of the sky and buildings using thin washes.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the plant leaves and flowers, focusing on the overall color harmony.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the shadows and forms of the plant and pot.
step 05
Paint the book, paying attention to the highlights and shadows on the pages.
step 06
Develop the details of the window frame and the sill, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the background buildings, suggesting their forms with color and value.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the plant and book to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · titanium white · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and cerulean blue. Achieve the pinks by mixing cadmium red and titanium white. Use burnt umber to darken colors and create shadows.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using too much detail and not simplifying the forms.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Ignoring the color temperature of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x12
·oil paints (cerulean blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red, burnt umber, sap green, titanium white)
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·palette knife
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits