plate no. 0264
Nature morte au siphon
Le Corbusier, 1921
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students understand color blocking and simplified shapes to represent complex objects. It's a good exercise in abstracting reality.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background.
- step 03
Define the shapes of the guitar, bottle, and other objects with flat colors.
- step 04
Add subtle variations in tone to create depth and dimension.
- step 05
Refine the edges of the shapes to achieve the desired level of abstraction.
- step 06
Add the small details like the tap on the bottle and the lines on the base.
- step 07
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.
- step 08
Make any necessary adjustments to the colors or shapes.
color palette
primary · ochre · dark green · light blue · peach
secondary · brown · white
Mix ochre with white for the background. Create the blues by mixing ultramarine with white. Use burnt umber and white to create the brown tones.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·flat color application
- ·simplified shapes
- ·geometric abstraction
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes and details.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Not achieving a balance between abstraction and representation.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ochre paint
- ·Dark Green paint
- ·Light Blue paint
optional
- ·Medium for blending
- ·Ruler
Use a limited palette of colors to maintain the simplicity of the painting.
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