plate no. 3326

The Orangerie

William Merritt Chase, 1909

oilImpressionismlandscapebuildinggardentreesflowerslawnsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the effects of light on different surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting complex organic forms like foliage and flowers.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, lawn, and major trees, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the base color of the building with a light yellow, then add shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the lawn with varying shades of green, yellow, and brown, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the trees and bushes, focusing on their overall shapes and textures.
step 06
Paint the flowers with small dabs of color, creating a sense of variety and detail.
step 07
Refine the details of the building, including the windows and architectural elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · cerulean blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and sap green, and adjust with white or burnt sienna for variations. Create the building's color by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of white and burnt sienna. Achieve the sky's color by mixing cerulean blue with white, adding a touch of ultramarine for darker areas.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Using too much green without variations in hue and value.
→Creating flat, lifeless colors by not mixing them sufficiently.
→Ignoring the effects of light and shadow on the forms.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, cerulean blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brushes (#6, #8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife