plate no. 2504

Flowers in three vases

oil, canvasImpressionismflower paintingflowersvasesstill lifefoliagetabletop

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to depict light and shadow on rounded forms like flowers and vases. Students will also learn to simplify complex shapes into manageable brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the vases and flower groupings.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber to establish the background and dark areas.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the vases and flowers, focusing on general tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors within each flower, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 05
Refine the shapes of the flowers and leaves, paying attention to detail.
step 06
Add highlights to the vases to create a sense of light and reflection.
step 07
Blend edges and soften transitions to create a cohesive composition.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · violet · rose madder

Achieve the various flower colors by mixing primary colors with white and small amounts of secondary colors. Use burnt umber and white to create the background tones. Mix greens with yellow and blue, adding burnt umber for muted shades.

techniques