plate no. 6834

Flowers and Fruit

Émilie Charmy, 1904

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowersfruitvasestill lifetablebackground pattern

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose, expressive brushwork and color mixing to create vibrant, textured surfaces. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms and capture the essence of the subject matter.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, fruit, and flowers, paying attention to proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of yellow ochre, leaving some areas lighter and darker.
step 03
Establish the main colors of the vase (blues and purples) and the fruit (reds, greens, yellows) using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the flowers, focusing on the shapes and colors of the petals and leaves.
step 05
Refine the shapes and colors of the fruit, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 06
Develop the background pattern using loose brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting, paying attention to the overall balance and harmony.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish coat.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · lemon yellow

Mix various shades of orange by combining cadmium red and yellow ochre. Achieve the blues of the vase by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of purple. Create the greens for the fruit by mixing yellow and blue.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·impasto
·scumbling
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details and neglecting the overall composition.
→Using colors that are too saturated and creating a jarring effect.
→Not varying brushstrokes enough to create texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, titanium white, viridian green, alizarin crimson, lemon yellow)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags