plate no. 6660

Flowers

George Stefanescu, 1985

oil, canvasExpressionismflower paintingflowersvasestill lifetableinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding the expressive use of color. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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 objects with light pencil lines.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of red as an underpainting for the background and table.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the flowers and leaves using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Add layers of color to the flowers, building up highlights and shadows.
step 05
Define the shape of the vase with white and yellow paint, adding details with a fine brush.
step 06
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the background.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the flowers and vase.
step 08
Let dry and apply a varnish for protection.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · cadmium yellow · titanium white

secondary · sap green · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue. Create variations of red by adding white, yellow, or blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
→Losing the overall structure of the composition.
→Applying paint too thinly or thickly.
→Not allowing enough drying time between layers.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (cadmium red, cadmium yellow, titanium white, sap green, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags