plate no. 0533
Cat
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create soft textures and capturing the essence of a subject with simplified forms. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in seemingly monochromatic areas.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: cat, figure, apples, and table.
- step 02
Establish the background with diluted washes of blues and grays.
- step 03
Begin layering the cat's fur with light browns, creams, and grays, focusing on the direction of the fur.
- step 04
Add darker tones to define the cat's features and create depth.
- step 05
Paint the apples with reds, greens, and yellows, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Define the figure and other background elements with muted colors.
- step 07
Add the details of the fly and any other small elements.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · payne's gray
secondary · cadmium red light · sap green · ultramarine blue
Mix browns and grays by combining umber, white, and a touch of blue. Achieve muted greens by mixing sap green with raw umber.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing and muting them.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows.
- →Making the background too busy and distracting from the main subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth texture to facilitate blending. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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