plate no. 4936

Magnolia

Horace Trenerry, 1934

oilImpressionismflower paintingflowermagnoliavasestill lifetable

some experience helpful

This painting is a great exercise in capturing form with visible brushstrokes and subtle color variations. Recreating it will help students understand how to simplify complex shapes and create depth with layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the flower, vase, and table.
step 02
Block in the background with a mid-tone gray.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the flower, vase, and table.
step 04
Begin layering lighter tones on the flower petals to create form.
step 05
Add darker tones to the vase and background to create contrast.
step 06
Refine the details of the flower petals with short, visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the vase and table to create a sense of light.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · gray

secondary · sap green · cadmium red light

Mix white with small amounts of red and umber to achieve the pinkish tones of the table. Vary the gray by adding small amounts of blue or umber.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the flower petals and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Making the background too dark or too light, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the flower petals.
→Not simplifying the shapes enough, resulting in a cluttered composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x12)
·titanium white oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·cadmium red light oil paint
·sap green oil paint
·gray oil paint
·#6 round brush
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·odorless mineral spirits
·medium gloss

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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