plate no. 2038
Flowers and shells
Moise Kisling, 1919
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing impasto techniques and learning how to create texture with visible brushstrokes. Students will also learn about color mixing to achieve the specific hues and values present in the painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the main colors of the background, vase, and flowers using thin washes.
- step 03
Start building up the texture on the flowers with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes, focusing on the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add details to the vase, including highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 05
Refine the background, adding texture and variations in color.
- step 06
Paint the stems and leaves, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the flowers and vase.
- step 08
Let dry and add a varnish.
color palette
primary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ultramarine blue
secondary · sap green · burnt umber
Mix cadmium yellow with small amounts of green and burnt umber to create the various shades of yellow in the flowers. Mix ultramarine blue with white to create the background grays and blues.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the colors, which will flatten the texture.
- →Not paying attention to the light and shadow on the flowers.
- →Using too much paint, which can make the painting look muddy.
- →Ignoring the background, which is an important part of the composition.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·cadmium yellow oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is a good starting point.
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