plate no. 6645
Carnations
Nicolae Vermont, 1924
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly achieving subtle variations in red and green, and in capturing form through loose, expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase and flower arrangement.
- step 02
Establish the dark background and tabletop with broad, blended strokes.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the flowers, vase, and tabletop, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the flowers, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to suggest the petals.
- step 05
Refine the shapes and highlights on the vase, paying attention to the reflected light.
- step 06
Add final details to the tabletop, including subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and harmony.
- step 08
Add final highlights to the flowers to create focal points.
color palette
primary · cadmium red · viridian green · burnt umber · ivory black
secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre
Achieve the various reds by mixing cadmium red with alizarin crimson and white. Greens are created by mixing viridian green with burnt umber and touches of yellow ochre. Darken colors with ivory black.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the flowers, resulting in a stiff or unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to create sufficient contrast between the flowers and the background.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, leading to a flat and uninteresting palette.
- →Not capturing the subtle variations in color and value within the vase.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·painting medium
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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