plate no. 2939
The Little Tea Party Nina Hamnett and Roald Kristian
Walter Sickert, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing figures in a relaxed setting and understanding how to use a limited palette to create a sense of atmosphere and light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and furniture.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figures and furniture.
- step 03
Establish the main light and shadow patterns, paying attention to how the light falls on the figures and objects.
- step 04
Refine the shapes and details of the figures, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
- step 05
Add details to the tea set and other objects on the table.
- step 06
Develop the textures of the couch, clothing, and background using visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue to create cooler grays and to tint the shadows. Add yellow ochre to warm up the browns and create highlights.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·tonal painting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figures.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony.
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