plate no. 8760
The House of Misia Sert
Pierre Bonnard, 1906
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting architectural details with loose brushwork and capturing the interplay of light and shadow within an interior space. Students will also learn to suggest figures and details rather than rendering them precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the house, porch, and steps, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the main colors of the building's structure, using thinned paint.
- step 03
Establish the dark and light patterns on the facade to create depth.
- step 04
Paint the foliage around the base of the house with loose, gestural strokes.
- step 05
Add the figures on the porch, simplifying their forms and colors.
- step 06
Define the interior space visible through the doorway with muted tones.
- step 07
Refine the details of the architectural elements, such as the railings and posts.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall impression.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · raw sienna
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining raw umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and ultramarine blue to create subtle variations in the shadows and foliage.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
- ·implied detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
- →Creating overly sharp edges.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
