plate no. 3261
Kate's Flowers
Winifred Nicholson, 1936
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex shapes and using a limited color palette to create a harmonious composition. It also provides practice in rendering subtle variations in color and texture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the pitcher, vase, flowers, table, and background.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: yellow for the pitcher and table, orange for the vase, and light blue/gray for the background.
- step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows and form of the objects.
- step 04
Paint the white flowers, paying attention to their shapes and arrangement.
- step 05
Add the details of the flower centers and the small white flowers.
- step 06
Create the pattern on the tablecloth using small dots and dashes of darker yellow and brown.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details of the objects, blending colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final touches to the background and adjust values as necessary.
color palette
primary · yellow · white · light blue · orange
secondary · brown · gray · green
Mix various shades of yellow by adding white, brown, or a touch of orange. Create the background by mixing light blue with white and a hint of gray.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Using too many colors
- →Not paying attention to the values
- →Making the composition too symmetrical
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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