plate no. 1234
The Cup of Tea
Andre Derain, 1935
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating a mood through color and lighting. It also provides practice in rendering textures and forms with a limited color palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and objects.
- step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, creating depth and atmosphere.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, chair, and table with simplified color masses.
- step 04
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in light and shadow.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, hands, and book, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the red chair, capturing its texture and form with expressive brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add the tea set and other details, ensuring they are in proportion and harmony with the rest of the painting.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, color balance, and lighting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · ivory black · cadmium red · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Darken colors with black or burnt umber, and lighten with white. Muted tones are created by mixing complementary colors.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure and objects.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, ivory black, cadmium red, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw sienna)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting knife
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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