plate no. 0155

Flowers

M. H. Maxy, 1920

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowersvasestablestill lifefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vases, flowers, and table.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of off-white paint.
step 03
Establish the dark areas of the vases and table with dark blues and browns.
step 04
Add the main colors of the flowers, focusing on the overall shapes rather than individual petals.
step 05
Build up layers of color in the vases, using short, visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the flowers, such as highlights and shadows, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the details of the table and background, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · gray

Mix white with blues and reds to create the muted tones in the flowers and vases. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm tones in the table.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Making the colors too saturated and losing the muted tones of the original painting.
→Not establishing a strong value structure early on.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition.