plate no. 4923
Flowers in Green Vase with Handles
Odilon Redon, 1905
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating texture with brushstrokes, and capturing the subtle gradations of light and shadow in a still life composition. It's also a good exercise in expressive color and loose, impressionistic brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase and flowers, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Apply a thin, warm-toned underpainting to the entire canvas.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas of the background, vase, and flowers with broad strokes.
- step 04
Begin layering colors within each area, building up depth and form.
- step 05
Add details to the flowers, such as petal shapes and stamen textures.
- step 06
Refine the vase shape and add highlights and shadows to create volume.
- step 07
Work on the background, adding subtle color variations and textures.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and expressive painting.
color palette
primary · viridian green · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow · titanium white
Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber. Create the purples by blending ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the background.
- →Not paying attention to the overall value structure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·oil paints (viridian green, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow, titanium white, burnt umber)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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