plate no. 4595

FOREST BERRIES

JAROSLAV KELUC, 1968

oilImpressionismstill lifemushroomsstill lifefoodtableshadowsforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly for achieving realistic mushroom tones, and in rendering form through subtle value changes and visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the mushrooms, paying attention to their overlapping forms.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of yellow and ochre.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the mushrooms: browns, yellows, and creams.
step 04
Begin to define the shapes of the mushroom caps and stems with darker and lighter values.
step 05
Add highlights to the tops of the caps and edges of the stems to create a sense of form.
step 06
Paint the shadows cast by the mushrooms, using blues and purples to create depth.
step 07
Refine the details of the mushrooms, such as the texture of the caps and the gills under the stems.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix browns by combining burnt umber with yellow ochre and a touch of blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of blue to browns to create shadows.

techniques