plate no. 4939

The Ball of July 14

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguresdancingnightpartytablecityscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in motion and capturing the atmosphere of a crowded scene with limited color and value variations. It will also improve their understanding of atmospheric perspective and how to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures and objects.
step 02
Block in the main areas of dark and light values using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Focus on capturing the general shapes and gestures of the figures, rather than individual details.
step 04
Gradually build up layers of color and value, using broken brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 05
Pay attention to the lighting and how it affects the colors and values of the scene.
step 06
Add subtle details to the foreground figures to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Use a dry brush technique to create highlights and texture on the figures and objects.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust the values as needed to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use burnt umber and black for the darkest shadows, and raw sienna and white for the highlights.

techniques