plate no. 7212

Clean hands

Antonio Sicurezza, 1969

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifepitcherbowlsoapwatercurtainstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the pitcher, bowl, and soap, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the background colors, starting with the lightest tones and gradually adding darker shades.
step 03
Begin layering the colors of the pitcher, focusing on capturing the highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 04
Paint the bowl, paying close attention to the reflections in the water. Use a variety of blues, greens, and yellows to capture the subtle color variations.
step 05
Add the details of the soap and the curtain, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the edges of the objects and adjust the colors as needed to create a cohesive composition.
step 07
Add the artist's signature in the bottom right corner.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and then apply a coat of varnish to protect the surface.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or burnt umber. Achieve the gold tones of the bowl by layering yellow ochre with touches of burnt umber and white.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·wet-on-dry
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to capture the reflections accurately.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast.
→Getting lost in details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (viridian green, yellow ochre, titanium white, cerulean blue, burnt umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·rags