plate no. 9404

Chrysanthemums and Autumn Foliage

Felix Vallotton, 1922

oil, canvasMagic Realismstill lifeflowersstill lifeleavesvasetablepin cushion

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice rendering textures of different materials like fabric, flowers, and ceramics. It also provides practice in observing and painting subtle variations in light and shadow.

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 composition, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background colors, starting with the darkest areas.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the vase, flowers, leaves, and tablecloth.
step 04
Begin adding details to the flowers, focusing on the shapes and values of the petals.
step 05
Refine the shapes and colors of the leaves, adding highlights and shadows.
step 06
Develop the details of the vase, pin cushion, and other objects on the table.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., red and green, blue and orange) with white. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre as a base for many of the earth tones.

techniques