plate no. 0010
Figure and Flowers
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing expressive brushstrokes and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. Students can learn to capture the essence of a subject rather than focusing on realistic details.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and figure using a pencil.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of light blue and white.
- step 03
Paint the vase with a dark purple/black, keeping the edges soft.
- step 04
Begin adding the flower heads with bold strokes of yellow, red, orange, and blue.
- step 05
Use white to add highlights and create a sense of volume in the flowers.
- step 06
Paint the figure using a mix of blue and white, simplifying the form.
- step 07
Add the red accent line beneath the vase.
- step 08
Refine the shapes and colors, paying attention to the overall balance of the composition.
color palette
primary · yellow · red · blue · white
secondary · orange · purple · black
Mix various shades of red, orange, and purple by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·Impasto
- ·Color blocking
- ·Expressive brushwork
- ·Simplification of form
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Making the composition too symmetrical.
- →Not simplifying the forms enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Acrylic or oil paints (yellow, red, blue, white, black)
- ·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Water or solvent (depending on paint type)
- ·Rags
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Medium (for oil paints)
- ·Easel
- ·Apron
Use heavy body acrylics or oils to achieve the impasto effect. A palette knife can be helpful for applying thick layers of paint.
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