plate no. 1732

Flowers in a Jug

Augustus John, 1950

oilPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowersvasetablestill lifejug

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and color mixing to create soft, diffused forms. It also provides practice in capturing the overall impression of a subject rather than precise details.

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 table.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of burnt sienna or similar earth tone.
step 03
Establish the main values and colors of the table, vase, and flowers using broad strokes.
step 04
Begin building up the form of the flowers with short, broken brushstrokes, layering pinks, whites, and touches of other colors.
step 05
Add the blue stripes to the vase, paying attention to the curves and proportions.
step 06
Refine the edges and details of the vase and flowers, softening some areas and sharpening others.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · rose madder · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green

Mix various shades of pink by combining rose madder and white. Use burnt sienna with white and a touch of blue to create the table and background colors. Add small amounts of green to the flower mix for subtle variations.

techniques