plate no. 6623

Flowers

David Bomberg, 1943

oil, canvasExpressionismflower paintingflowersvasestill lifefoliagetable

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a dynamic and textured surface. It encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of the subject rather than precise detail.

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, flowers, and background with light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes of paint, focusing on overall value and temperature.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, using thicker brushstrokes to define forms and create texture.
step 04
Mix a range of warm and cool tones to capture the light and shadow on the flowers and vase.
step 05
Use bold, expressive brushstrokes to suggest the petals and leaves, avoiding precise detail.
step 06
Pay attention to the negative space around the flowers to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the subject.
step 08
Refine the composition and adjust colors as needed to achieve a harmonious and expressive result.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red · ivory black

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue

Achieve the warm, earthy tones by mixing yellow ochre and burnt umber. Use cadmium red for the flower accents. Muted greens are created by mixing yellow ochre and a touch of black or ultramarine blue.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Creating muddy colors
→Losing the overall sense of light and shadow
→Being too literal in the representation of the flowers

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, ivory black, sap green, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags