plate no. 6135

Dogwood Blossoms

oilPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowersvasestill lifebranchestable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering watercolor washes and creating soft, blurred edges. It also provides practice in observing and depicting the subtle variations in color and value within a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and branches.
step 02
Apply a light wash of pale yellow to the tabletop.
step 03
Paint the background with a diluted blue wash, allowing it to blend softly.
step 04
Begin layering washes of white and pale pink for the flower petals, leaving some areas unpainted for highlights.
step 05
Add darker pinks and purples to the centers of the flowers to create depth.
step 06
Paint the branches with a mix of brown and black, using short, broken strokes.
step 07
Add subtle shadows to the vase and tabletop using diluted blues and grays.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · rose madder

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · payne's gray

Mix white with small amounts of rose madder for the pinks. Use cerulean blue diluted for the background. Mix burnt umber and payne's gray for the branches.

techniques