plate no. 6037

Flowers in a Glass Vase with a Dragonfly, on a Marble Slab

oilBaroqueflower paintingflowersvasetabledragonflyleavessunflower

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex floral arrangements, understanding light and shadow to create depth, and mixing subtle color variations to achieve realistic textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the vase, flowers, and table.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the flowers and leaves, focusing on the overall composition.
step 04
Start layering colors and values to create depth and form in each flower.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to define the shapes and textures of the petals and leaves.
step 06
Paint the details of the vase and the marble slab, paying attention to the reflections and highlights.
step 07
Add the dragonfly and other small insects with fine brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · yellow ochre · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Achieve the subtle color variations by mixing small amounts of complementary colors. Use white to create highlights and burnt umber to create shadows.

techniques