plate no. 6646

Flowers

William H. Johnson, 1945

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowersvasetablestill lifefoliage

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting helps develop skills in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, table, and flower arrangement lightly with pencil.
step 02
Block in the background color with a light blue-gray.
step 03
Paint the vase with a light green, adding darker green shadows.
step 04
Fill in the table with a light beige, adding vertical strokes for texture.
step 05
Begin adding the flowers, focusing on their basic shapes and colors (red, yellow, orange, pink, purple, white).
step 06
Use bold brushstrokes to define the petals and leaves.
step 07
Add details like stems and centers of the flowers.
step 08
Refine the colors and shapes, adjusting as needed to match the original.

color palette

primary · light blue-gray · light green · yellow · red

secondary · orange · pink · purple · white · beige

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows. Achieve the background blue-gray by mixing blue with white and a touch of gray or brown. Create oranges by mixing red and yellow.

techniques