plate no. 7307
The blue chairs II
Panayiotis Tetsis, 1976
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and in capturing light and shadow to create depth. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the chair, table, and cup, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the darkest areas and gradually moving to the lighter ones.
- step 03
Mix the various shades of blue for the chair, paying attention to the subtle color variations created by light and shadow.
- step 04
Add the yellow of the cup, capturing its highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the details of the chair and table, adding texture with visible brushstrokes.
- step 06
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add the final highlights and details to the cup and its reflection.
- step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber
secondary · titanium white · sap green
Mix blues and umber for the dark shadows. Use white to lighten the blues for highlights on the chair. Mix yellow ochre with a touch of umber for the cup's base color; add white for highlights.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the shadows.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unrealistic.
- →Failing to establish a strong value contrast.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for a slightly textured surface. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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