plate no. 0001

Cut Peach, Blue Vase

Janet Fish, 1993

oilContemporary Realismstill lifepeachesvaseflowersglasswarestill lifetablecloth

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly achieving luminous effects in glass, and understanding how light interacts with different textures. It also provides practice in rendering complex patterns and details within a still life arrangement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the objects.
step 02
Establish the background color and the overall color scheme of the tablecloth.
step 03
Block in the basic colors of the peaches, glassware, and vase, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create the illusion of transparency in the glass, using thin glazes.
step 05
Develop the details of the flowers and foliage, paying attention to their individual shapes and colors.
step 06
Refine the patterns and textures on the vase and tablecloth, using small brushstrokes.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Step back and make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, and value.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · yellow ochre

Achieve the warm, glowing tones of the peaches and glassware by mixing cadmium red and yellow with white. Create the blue of the vase by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use glazes of thinned paint to build up color and create transparency.

techniques