plate no. 3445

Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase

Émilie Charmy, 1925

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowersvasestill lifebouquet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing to create soft, expressive floral compositions. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase and flower arrangement lightly with charcoal or a thin wash of paint.
step 02
Block in the background with a mix of grays, blues, and pinks, using loose, visible brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main colors of the flowers (reds, whites, and pinks) with broad strokes, focusing on capturing the overall color masses.
step 04
Add details to the vase, using greens and browns to suggest its form and texture.
step 05
Refine the shapes of the flowers, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 06
Use thin lines of green to represent the stems and add movement to the composition.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final touches and details, such as subtle color variations in the background and highlights on the flowers.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium red · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · rose madder

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and a touch of umber. Achieve pinks by mixing red and white. Create muted greens by mixing sap green and burnt umber.

techniques