plate no. 9699

Brass Kettle with Porcelain Coffee Pot

Emil Carlsen, 1910

oilRealismstill lifestill lifekettlecoffee potbrasstabletopkitchenware

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering metallic surfaces and creating subtle tonal variations to depict form. It also provides practice in creating a harmonious and muted color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the kettle, coffee pot, and other objects.
step 02
Establish the background tone with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main shadows and highlights on each object, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes and edges of the objects, paying attention to the curves and contours.
step 05
Add details to the kettle and coffee pot, such as the spout, handle, and lid.
step 06
Develop the metallic sheen on the kettle by layering thin glazes of color and highlighting the reflective areas.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights on the tabletop and background to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to create a cohesive and realistic still life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve the brassy tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Use white to lighten the values and black to darken them. Create subtle variations by adding small amounts of other colors.

techniques