plate no. 5988

Bodegón Con Caja De Cerillas

Maria Blanchard, 1918

oil, canvasCubismstill lifestill lifetablebottlematchboxglassgeometric shapes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand cubist principles of breaking down objects into geometric forms and explore textured brushwork to add depth and visual interest. Students will also learn to create a balanced composition using fragmented shapes and contrasting colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes and their placement on the canvas, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the main color areas using thin washes of paint, establishing the light and dark values.
step 03
Begin to build up the texture in areas like the yellow background and the dark brown section, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Refine the shapes and edges of the objects, adding details like the matchbox label and the patterns on the tablecloth.
step 05
Mix and apply secondary colors to create depth and highlights within the shapes.
step 06
Add small details and patterns, such as the dots on the white fabric and the stripes on the bottom.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Allow to dry completely and add a varnish layer.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Achieve the blue by mixing ultramarine blue with a touch of white. Create the green by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre.

techniques

·geometric abstraction
·broken color
·impasto
·color blocking
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which will flatten the image.
→Losing the geometric structure of the objects.
→Ignoring the texture and focusing only on color.
→Not paying attention to the value contrasts.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, ivory black)
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags