plate no. 4433
Kitchen Still Life
William Scott, 1948
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify forms and use color to create depth and volume. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of objects rather than focusing on realistic detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the still life, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and the table.
- step 03
Add the main colors of the objects, using simplified shapes and flat tones.
- step 04
Introduce subtle variations in color and value to create depth and form.
- step 05
Define the edges of the objects with darker or lighter tones to create contrast.
- step 06
Add details such as the highlights on the eggs and the reflections in the bottle.
- step 07
Refine the brushwork to match the visible strokes of the original painting.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious balance.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray and blue by combining ultramarine blue, burnt umber, and white. Achieve the orange background by mixing yellow ochre with a touch of alizarin crimson. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·color mixing
- ·simplified forms
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified forms.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy palette.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the objects.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the expressive quality.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·easel
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Experiment with different brushstrokes to achieve the desired texture.
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