plate no. 0926

Tending the Garden

Marie Duhem, 1912

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapebuildingtreesgardenfigurelawnwindows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for natural light and shadow, as well as layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth in foliage and architecture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, tree, and figure, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, building facade, lawn, and tree foliage with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering in darker values to define shadows on the building, tree trunk, and under the foliage.
step 04
Add highlights to the lawn, building, and leaves to create a sense of light and form.
step 05
Refine the details of the windows and architectural elements, paying attention to perspective.
step 06
Develop the texture of the foliage using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Add details to the figure and the garden flowers.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · sap green · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, adding white to lighten. Achieve the building's off-white by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber.

techniques