plate no. 6041

Five Peaches

Avigdor Arikha, 1992

oilContemporary Realismstill lifepeachesfruitstill lifeplatetable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating soft transitions with pastels or similar media. It also emphasizes the importance of observing subtle color variations in a seemingly simple subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the outline of the plate and the peaches, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a light layer of pastel.
step 03
Begin layering the base colors for the plate, using grays and blues.
step 04
Start building up the colors of the peaches, using reds, yellows, and oranges. Focus on the areas of shadow and light.
step 05
Add details to the plate, such as the blue pattern around the edge.
step 06
Refine the shapes and colors of the peaches, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Blend the colors softly to create smooth transitions.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · red · yellow · gray · blue

secondary · orange · brown · white

Mix reds and yellows to achieve peach tones. Use gray and blue to create the cool tones of the plate. White can be used to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques