plate no. 0355
Flowers
Moise Kisling, 1919
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing the form of organic shapes. It's a good exercise in creating depth and texture with brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and background elements.
- step 02
Apply a thin underpainting of burnt umber to establish the overall value structure.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the background, table, and vase.
- step 04
Start layering colors on the flowers, focusing on capturing their individual shapes and hues.
- step 05
Add details to the vase, including highlights and shadows to create a sense of form.
- step 06
Refine the background and table, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 07
Add final details to the flowers, such as stems and leaves.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · alizarin crimson
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create subtle variations in value.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting lost in the details of the flowers too early.
- →Ignoring the background and table, which are important for creating context.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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