plate no. 9676

Nasturtiums and Pink Cups

Janet Fish, 1981

oilContemporary Realismstill lifeflowerscupsglasswarefruitstill lifetable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and in rendering transparent and reflective surfaces. It also provides practice in capturing the interplay of light and shadow on various objects.

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 and composition of the objects, paying attention to their relative sizes and placement.
step 02
Establish the background and tabletop with broad strokes of color, focusing on the overall tone and color harmony.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the flowers, cups, glass, and fruit, using simplified shapes and values.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes and values of each object, adding details and highlights to create form and depth.
step 05
Carefully render the transparent and reflective qualities of the glass and cups, paying attention to the way light passes through them.
step 06
Add shadows and highlights to create a sense of volume and dimension, and to ground the objects in space.
step 07
Refine the details of the flowers, adding texture and variation to the petals.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · yellow · pink · orange · green

secondary · gray · purple · brown

Achieve the subtle pinks by mixing white with small amounts of red and purple. Create the yellows and oranges by mixing primary yellows and reds, and muting them with small amounts of brown or green.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling
·rendering transparency
·depicting reflections

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Failing to establish a strong value structure
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the objects
→Not accurately depicting the transparency of the glass

materials

surface · Pastel paper or sanded paper

required

·Oil pastels or soft pastels
·Pastel paper or sanded paper
·Blending stumps
·Kneaded eraser
·Fixative spray
·Palette for mixing

optional

·Palette knife
·Turpentine or mineral spirits
·Medium for oil pastels

Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to allow for better adhesion of the pastels. Consider using a fixative spray to prevent smudging and to build up layers of pastel.

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