plate no. 1911
Bouquet de fleurs
Louise Abbéma, 1914
some experience helpful
This painting is a good exercise in capturing the form and texture of flowers using loose brushstrokes and subtle color variations. Recreating it will help students develop skills in color mixing and layering.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the flowers and leaves.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of background color, a light grey or lavender.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of each flower, focusing on the overall value.
- step 04
Add layers of color to build up the form and create depth in the petals.
- step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the petals.
- step 06
Paint the leaves and stems, paying attention to their varying shades of green.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the flowers.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · titanium white
secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson
Mix white with yellow ochre and a touch of red for the yellow flowers. Use alizarin crimson and cadmium red for the red flower. Mix greens with viridian and yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat image.
- →Making the background too distracting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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