The national flag

A woman sits holding aloft a bright red flag while two companions lean over a wooden table in a modest kitchen interior. Strong warm light floods from the upper left, illuminating the back wall and the figures in golden tones, while the right side and background recede into deep shadow. The eye travels first to the red flag—the only saturated, high-value accent in the composition—then down to the gathered figures and the table that anchors the scene. The spatial composition is intimate and enclosed, with dark doorways and architectural elements creating a theatrical frame around the warm, lit interior.

The darkest darks occupy the right side, doorways, and shadowed corners, reading as deep brown-black. The lightest lights are the cream-yellow upper wall and brightest clothing highlights. A dominant middle range of warm tan and golden-brown unifies the wooden surfaces and figures. When you squint, the composition divides clearly: a glowing central zone (wall and figures) against a dark perimeter that drops away dramatically, creating strong depth.

• #e4bf69

  Titanium white + yellow ochre + touch of raw sienna

  Upper left wall and brightest light zones; foundation for the warm atmospheric glow

• #bc9761

  Yellow ochre + raw sienna + titanium white

  Mid-tone walls and light-struck wood surfaces; most of the visible background wall

• #9d7c58

  Raw sienna + burnt umber + yellow ochre

  Wooden furniture, clothing midtones, and transitional values throughout the interior

• #755d44

  Burnt umber + raw sienna + touch of Prussian blue

  Shadow sides of wood and clothing; darker figure passages and mid-shadow transitions

• #544634

  Burnt umber + Prussian blue + touch of cadmium red

  Deepest shadows in doorways, background, and extreme darks on clothing

• #31291e

  Prussian blue + burnt umber + cadmium red (near black)

  The darkest accents: deep interior shadows and the darkest clothing passages

• #d9422f

  Cadmium red + small touch of yellow ochre

  The national flag—a bright, true red that reads luminously against the warm background

Edges throughout are predominantly soft and lost, especially where light meets shadow and in the background. The brushwork is loose and gestural—fabric folds and clothing are suggested through broad strokes rather than defined precisely. The looseness conveys light and atmosphere; shadows blend and soften while highlights remain slightly more defined. Watch how the artist reserves crisp edges for only the most important accent (the flag) while keeping the rest atmospheric and painterly.

1. 01

   Establish the composition and value map

   Lightly sketch the three figures and table arrangement, then block in the major value zones: the glowing upper wall and lit areas in a mid-yellow, the figures in warm mid-tones, and the deep shadows (doorways, right side, lower corners) in dark brown. Your goal is a clear light-to-dark relationship, not detail. Think of it as three distinct value families: light, mid, and dark.

2. 02

   Paint the illuminated wall and light source

   Work the upper left wall with a warm, glowing yellow-cream, letting it be the warmest, brightest area. This wall is your light source anchor—it should feel like it's radiating warmth across the entire interior. Keep the edges soft and atmospheric; avoid a flat finish. Let the color gently transition toward cooler tones as it moves toward the right and shadow side.

3. 03

   Block in the architectural shadows

   Paint the deep shadows of the doorways, right wall, and background with confident, warm-dark strokes (burnt umber mixed toward shadow brown). These areas should feel like they recede and anchor the space. Don't overblend—let the brushstrokes show the structure of the interior. The darkness here is what makes the lit figures read as luminous.

4. 04

   Establish the figures and table in midtone

   Block in all three figures using warm tan and raw sienna mixes for their clothing and flesh tones. The table should read as a lighter tan, separating the figures. You're not rendering faces or fine details yet—just establishing the warm, glowing mass of humanity and furniture against the background. Let shapes overlap naturally to create depth.

5. 05

   Paint the red flag decisively

   Using cadmium red (or equivalent), paint the flag held high by the central figure. This is your eye-magnet—it should be bright, clear, and unshadowed. Don't hesitate; the boldness of the stroke matters. The red reads against the warm background precisely because it's a true, saturated red surrounded by golden-brown. Leave it slightly higher in value and purity than everything else.

6. 06

   Model form with shadow and soft edges

   Using your dark brown mix, add shadows to the clothing and faces—the shaded side of the woman's face, the folds in fabric, the darker areas of the man's coat. Keep these shadows soft and warm (don't go cool or gray). The lighting is warm throughout, so even shadows lean toward brown and sienna, not blue. Use a dry-ish brush or soft blending to integrate shadows into the midtones.

7. 07

   Add architectural details and strengthen spatial recession

   Define the doorways, fireplace edge, and hung objects on the wall with darker strokes. These don't need to be precise—suggestion is enough. Add a few touches of the brightest cream-yellow to the most lit portions of clothing and the wall to reinforce the light direction. Paint some dark objects in the lower left (vegetables, tools) with minimal detail, just shape and shadow.

8. 08

   Refine transitions and final accents

   Soften the transitions between light and shadow on the wall, using semi-transparent warm glazes if needed. Add the finest highlights to the brightest clothing folds and the flag's upper edge. Step back frequently—the painting should read as a unified warm interior with a dramatic flag accent, not as separate rendered objects. The looseness and atmosphere matter more than precision here.

• Painting the wall too flat or uniform yellow—the light has graduated warmth and movement; let it transition and breathe across the surface.
• Overworking the red flag or making it muddy—this is your moment for confidence and purity; keep the red clear and unshadowed.
• Losing the deep shadow structure on the right and background—these dark areas are not mistakes; they're essential for creating drama and depth. Commit to them.
• Rendering the figures with tight, photo-realistic detail—the loose, gestural brushwork is part of the Romantic style and mood. Suggest form through value and shadow, not careful drawing.
• Making the overall palette too cool or gray—the entire painting is warm and golden. Even the shadows lean warm (brown, not purple-blue).

beginner friendliness

value contrast

palette complexity

compositional simplicity

brushwork visibility