plate no. 6870

May Lillies

oilImpressionismflower paintingflowersbasketstill lifefloral arrangementdark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and creating depth with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise details.

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 basket and flower arrangement.
step 02
Block in the dark background with a mix of browns and blues.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the flowers and basket.
step 04
Begin adding individual flower shapes with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply the various greens for the foliage, focusing on value differences.
step 06
Add highlights to the flowers to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the basket weave with short, broken strokes.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and values to create a cohesive and balanced painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · sap green

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjusting the ratio for different shades. Use white to create lighter values and alizarin crimson to add warmth to shadows.

techniques