plate no. 3842

The garden bench

Rupert Bunny, 1915

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresgardenbenchtreesdresseshats

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and layering brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in capturing the impressionistic style of light and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the bench.
step 02
Block in the main color areas, starting with the background foliage and the ground.
step 03
Establish the values of the figures' clothing and skin tones.
step 04
Begin layering brushstrokes to define the forms and create texture, especially in the dresses and foliage.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to capture the light and shadow.
step 06
Add details such as the facial features, the fan, and the floral pattern on the dress.
step 07
Refine the edges and blend colors where necessary to create a soft, impressionistic effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · alizarin crimson

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · violet

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use thin glazes of color to build up depth and luminosity.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·wet-on-dry layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→over-blending colors
→losing the impressionistic feel by adding too much detail
→incorrect proportions of the figures
→muddy colors

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, sap green)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#4, #8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife