plate no. 5087

Gladioli

Chaim Soutine, 1919

oil, canvasExpressionismstill lifeflowersvasestill lifetablefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a dynamic and textured surface. It also encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of the subject rather than precise detail.

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 background with light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the table, the vase, and the flowers, using thinned paint.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, focusing on capturing the general values and color relationships.
step 04
Use bold, visible brushstrokes to define the shapes of the flowers and the vase.
step 05
Mix variations of red and brown to create depth and texture in the background and flowers.
step 06
Add highlights to the vase and flowers to create a sense of light and form.
step 07
Refine the details of the vase and flowers, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of red by combining cadmium red with burnt umber and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and yellow ochre to create the cooler tones in the vase and shadows.

techniques

·impasto
·dry brush
·broken color
·alla prima
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details and not capturing the overall impression.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Not paying attention to the color relationships and values.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (cadmium red, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits