How did Pierre-Auguste Renoir use light and brushwork in Luncheon of the Boating Party?

In Luncheon of the Boating Party, Pierre-Auguste Renoir employs characteristic Impressionistic techniques to capture a vibrant, sunlit afternoon.12

Regarding his use of light and brushwork:

• Light: Renoir utilizes a palette of bright and warm colors to effectively render the quality of light as it is diffused by the overhead awning.12
• Brushwork: He employs loose brushwork to suggest movement and vitality among the figures in the scene. In contrast, he uses a thicker application of paint to define the still-life elements arranged on the table.12

Although the painting captures a spontaneous-feeling moment, Renoir actually executed the portraits of the individual figures separately or in small groups within his studio, marking a transitional period where he began to move toward more traditional painting methods.12