plate no. 3529

Melon

Egon Schiele, 1905

oilImpressionismstill lifemelonsstill lifetableclothfruitinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations and practice rendering rounded forms with light and shadow. It will also help them understand how to create depth and texture with brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the melons, table, and cloth, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the melons using mid-tones.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the melons, building up depth and form with short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the table and cloth, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 06
Add the blue stripes on the cloth, paying attention to their perspective and placement.
step 07
Refine the details and edges of the melons and cloth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · sap green

Achieve the melon's colors by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, and small amounts of green and blue. Use white to lighten the colors for highlights and add burnt sienna for warmer shadows.

techniques