plate no. 6565

18 Compositie Opus 1

Jacoba van Heemskerck, 1913

oilCubismstill lifestill lifeflowersvasetablecubismgeometric shapes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand cubist principles of breaking down forms into geometric shapes and building a composition through overlapping planes. It also provides practice in color mixing and value control within a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the vase, flowers, and table.
step 02
Break down the objects into geometric shapes (squares, triangles, rectangles).
step 03
Outline these shapes with a pencil, creating a grid-like structure.
step 04
Mix the base colors: a range of greens, yellows, grays, and browns.
step 05
Begin filling in the shapes with the appropriate colors, paying attention to value changes within each shape.
step 06
Add darker values to create shadows and depth.
step 07
Introduce lighter values to highlight certain areas and create contrast.
step 08
Refine the edges of the shapes and add any final details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, sap green, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Create grays by mixing raw umber and titanium white, adjusting the ratio for different values. Use burnt sienna to add warmth to the browns and yellows.

techniques