plate no. 0205
Malva
Victor Zaretsky, 1986
experienced study
Recreating this painting will develop skills in color mixing for optical blending and applying short, deliberate brushstrokes to build texture and form. Students will also learn to manage a complex composition with many small details.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the main areas of flowers and foliage.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a base layer of light blue and white.
- step 03
Begin adding the darker foliage using short, broken strokes of green, blue, and black.
- step 04
Mix a range of pink and red hues for the malva flowers.
- step 05
Apply the flower colors using small, individual brushstrokes, varying the pressure for texture.
- step 06
Add highlights to the flowers with lighter shades of pink and white.
- step 07
Introduce other flower colors like orange, purple, and white, maintaining the pointillist style.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the foliage and background.
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · crimson red · cadmium yellow · titanium white
secondary · sap green · dioxazine purple · burnt umber
Achieve the various shades of pink by mixing crimson red with titanium white, and adjust the hue with small amounts of yellow or blue. Create the greens by mixing cerulean blue and cadmium yellow, adding burnt umber for darker, muted tones.
techniques
- ·Pointillism
- ·Broken color
- ·Optical mixing
- ·Dry brush
- ·Layering
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, losing the pointillist effect.
- →Creating a flat, uniform texture instead of varying the brushstrokes.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Losing the overall composition in the details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water (depending on paint type)
- ·Linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Easel
- ·Color wheel
- ·Reference photo print
Use high-quality paints for better color saturation and longevity. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying textures.
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