plate no. 3229

Flowers in a vase with lemon

Mary Fedden, 1987

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)still lifeflowersvaselemonsstill lifetable

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying forms and using bold, visible brushstrokes to create texture and interest. It's a good exercise in color mixing and creating a balanced composition with a limited palette.

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, lemons, and flower arrangement.
step 02
Block in the background colors: sky, table, and the dark horizontal area behind the vase.
step 03
Paint the vase with white, leaving space for the blue pattern.
step 04
Add the blue flower shapes, varying the shades slightly.
step 05
Paint the yellow lemons, adding highlights and shadows.
step 06
Add the blue pattern to the vase.
step 07
Refine the shapes and edges, adding details like the flower centers and stems.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · lemon yellow · titanium white

secondary · dark green · ultramarine blue

Mix lighter blues by adding white to cerulean blue. Create the green by mixing blue and yellow. Use white to create highlights on the lemons and vase.

techniques