plate no. 0145
Cosmic Sunflower
Chiara Magni, 2020
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto application and color mixing for creating depth and texture. It also provides practice in representing organic forms with expressive brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the sunflowers and foliage.
- step 02
Apply a dark blue base layer to the background.
- step 03
Build up the background with layers of blues, greens, and purples using short, thick brushstrokes.
- step 04
Block in the general shapes of the sunflowers with yellow and green.
- step 05
Add details to the sunflower petals using varying shades of yellow and orange, creating texture with impasto.
- step 06
Define the centers of the sunflowers with dark blues and browns, adding texture.
- step 07
Paint the stems and leaves with greens and yellows, using vertical brushstrokes.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details, including small white dots for a cosmic effect.
color palette
primary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · viridian green
secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · purple
Mix different shades of blue and green for the background. Use white to lighten the blues and greens. Mix yellow with small amounts of orange and brown to create variations in the sunflower petals.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the background colors, losing the texture.
- →Making the sunflower petals too uniform and flat.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a monotonous texture.
- →Using too much white, which can make the colors appear chalky.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·apron
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A variety of brush sizes and shapes will be helpful for creating different textures.
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