plate no. 5174
Chamomile
Victor Zaretsky, 1986
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding color temperature in a limited palette. It's also a good exercise in depicting a complex subject (flowers) with simplified forms.
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 of the vases and flower arrangement, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with a light, neutral color.
- step 03
Establish the main colors of the vases: a warm, earthy tone for the larger vase and a cool white for the smaller one.
- step 04
Begin layering the flowers, starting with the darker areas and gradually adding highlights to create form.
- step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the petals of the chamomile flowers.
- step 06
Add the green leaves and stems, varying the shades of green to create depth.
- step 07
Paint the red berries in the smaller vase, using small, concentrated strokes.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of light and shadow.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber
secondary · cadmium red · sap green · ultramarine blue
Mix white with yellow ochre and a touch of raw umber to create the base color for the larger vase. Use white with a touch of blue for the smaller vase. Mix different shades of green by combining sap green with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details of the flowers, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
- →Using too much white, which can make the painting look flat and chalky.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background and vases.
- →Not establishing a clear light source, which can make the painting look confusing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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