plate no. 7509

Composition with lemons and poppy

Henri Catargi, 1966

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifeflowerspitcherlemonsstill lifetablecloth

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in observing and painting simple forms, as well as understanding color relationships in a limited palette. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the pitcher, lemons, and cloth.
step 02
Block in the background colors: dark brown and reddish-brown.
step 03
Establish the main values of the pitcher using white mixed with small amounts of brown and gray.
step 04
Paint the lemons using yellows and oranges, capturing their rounded forms.
step 05
Add the red poppies and green leaves, focusing on their shapes and placement.
step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the cloth with light grays and greens.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and depth.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix different shades of white with small amounts of umber and black to create the pitcher's subtle tones. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the lemons, and mix red with a touch of umber for deeper tones in the poppies.

techniques