plate no. 1441
Apples
Matthew Smith, 1920
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in color mixing and layering to achieve vibrant, non-realistic color palettes. Students will also develop skills in simplifying forms and capturing light through color.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the plate and the fruit.
- step 02
Block in the main colors of the background and the plate using thin washes.
- step 03
Begin layering colors on the fruit, focusing on capturing the light and shadow with color variations.
- step 04
Add details to the plate's design using a smaller brush and the blue paint.
- step 05
Refine the shapes and colors of the fruit, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Add final touches to the background and the table surface.
- step 07
Step back and adjust colors and values as needed to create a cohesive composition.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · blue · pink
secondary · green · purple · orange
Mix various shades of pink by combining red and white. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow, and purples by mixing red and blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·color layering
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Being too literal with color, instead of embracing the expressive palette.
- →Losing the loose, painterly quality by overworking details.
- →Not paying attention to the overall color harmony of the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (red, yellow, blue, white, green, pink)
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil (for oil paints)
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
Consider using a toned canvas to start with a mid-value ground. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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