plate no. 9842

The Gossip

Thomas Dewing, 1907

oilTonalismgenre paintingfiguresinteriortablechairsdressestea

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in loose, impressionistic styles and mixing subtle color variations to create a harmonious tonal effect. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective and suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.

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 table.
step 02
Establish the overall tonal range with a thin wash of diluted raw umber or burnt sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figures' dresses.
step 04
Develop the forms of the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow on the fabric.
step 05
Add details to the faces and hands, keeping the brushstrokes loose and expressive.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Add the details of the table and chairs, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 08
Glaze with transparent layers to unify the colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle tonal variations by mixing small amounts of the secondary colors into the primary colors. Use white to lighten the values and create highlights.

techniques