plate no. 7885

Flowers

Gwen John, 1910

oilPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowersvasetablestill lifeinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes.
step 03
Add darker tones to establish the shadows and depth.
step 04
Build up the colors in layers, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the shapes of the flowers with highlights and contrasting colors.
step 06
Add details to the vase, capturing its transparency and reflections.
step 07
Refine the background, paying attention to the interplay of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · rose madder · sap green · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., a touch of green in the reds, or red in the greens). Use white to lighten and soften the colors.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing
→Losing the loose and expressive brushwork
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, rose madder, sap green, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags