plate no. 1595
Narcissus and Lilies
Theodor Pallady, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting floral arrangements and capturing the subtle light and shadow variations in drapery. It's also a good exercise in color mixing to achieve muted and harmonious tones.
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 of the vase, flowers, and table.
- step 02
Block in the background drapery with broad strokes of muted browns and grays.
- step 03
Establish the main colors of the flowers (red, yellow, white) and leaves (green).
- step 04
Add the table cloth, paying attention to the pattern and color variations.
- step 05
Refine the shapes and details of the flowers and vase, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Work on the reflections and transparency of the glass vase.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust the overall color harmony.
- step 08
Sign the painting.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · white · green
secondary · brown · gray · pink · blue
Mix muted tones by combining complementary colors (e.g., red and green, blue and orange). Use white to lighten colors and create subtle variations in value.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
- →Using colors that are too bright and saturated.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes in the drapery.
- →Failing to capture the transparency of the glass vase.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Oil paints (red, yellow, white, green, brown, gray, blue)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·Varnish
Use a limited palette of colors to create a harmonious and unified painting. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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