plate no. 1752

Bottles and a pitcher

Robert Falk, 1912

oilExpressionismstill lifebottlespitcherstill lifetablereflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict reflections and create form using subtle value changes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes into basic geometric forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the bottles and pitcher.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of off-white.
step 03
Establish the dark tones of the table and reflections.
step 04
Begin layering the colors of the pitcher, focusing on the blues and greens.
step 05
Paint the bottles, paying attention to the color of the liquid and the glass.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to define the forms and create depth.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust colors as needed.
step 08
Add final touches to reflections.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Titanium white · Sap green

secondary · Burnt umber · Cadmium yellow light · Ivory black

Mix Prussian blue with white for the pitcher, and add touches of yellow ochre and burnt umber for variation. Use yellow ochre and white for the liquid in the bottle. Mix sap green and ivory black for the green bottle.

techniques