plate no. 4880

Nature morte à la tasse de café

Auguste Herbin, 1926

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifebreadcoffeecupspoonstill lifetable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in observing and painting simple forms, as well as mixing and applying color in a controlled manner. It's a good exercise for understanding light and shadow on basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the still life.
step 02
Block in the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for each object (bread, cup, bowl).
step 04
Start adding darker shadows and highlights to define the forms.
step 05
Refine the shapes and edges of the objects.
step 06
Add details like the lines on the bread and the spoon.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix browns with burnt umber and a touch of ultramarine blue. Create lighter tones by adding titanium white. Achieve the background blue by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre to mute it.

techniques

·blocking in
·color mixing
·blending
·layering
·observational drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations.
→Making the shadows too dark or the highlights too bright.
→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or brush cleaner

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·painting rags

Use a canvas size appropriate for the complexity of the image, such as 12x16 or 16x20 inches. Acrylics are easier for beginners, but oils offer more blending capabilities.

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