plate no. 3550

Bouquet and a Cat

Suzanne Valadon, 1919

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismflower paintingcatflowersstill lifebouquetinteriortextile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting a variety of subjects within a single composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the cat, the vase, the flowers, and the table.
step 02
Block in the background and the large areas of color for the curtain and the wall.
step 03
Establish the basic colors and values for the cat, focusing on the orange and white stripes.
step 04
Paint the vase and the table, paying attention to the shadows and highlights.
step 05
Add the flowers, starting with the larger shapes and then adding details to the petals and leaves.
step 06
Refine the details of the cat's face and fur, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add details to the curtain and the table cloth, capturing the patterns and textures.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · orange · green · red · blue

secondary · white · brown · purple · yellow

Mix various shades of orange by combining red and yellow with touches of white or brown. Achieve the greens by mixing blue and yellow, and adjust the hue by adding more of one color or the other. Create the purples by mixing red and blue.

techniques

·broken color
·visible brushstrokes
·layering
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which can result in a muddy appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the cat wrong.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
→Losing the energy of the brushstrokes by overworking the painting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (orange, green, red, blue, white, brown)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags

optional

·Medium gloss
·Retarder medium
·Easel

Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a harmonious composition. Consider using a medium to adjust the consistency and drying time of the oil paints.

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