plate no. 4767

Norman Earthenware (also known as A Pot from Rouen)

Pierre Bonnard, 1910

oil, canvasIntimisminteriorinteriorstill lifeflowerstablewindowfurniture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice loose, expressive brushwork to capture the textures and forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the table, vase, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the canvas, starting with the background and larger areas.
step 03
Build up the colors in layers, gradually adding more detail and depth to the painting.
step 04
Focus on capturing the light and shadow on the objects, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the flowers and foliage with loose, expressive brushstrokes, capturing their delicate forms and colors.
step 06
Add details to the vase, table, and other objects, paying attention to the patterns and textures.
step 07
Refine the painting by adjusting the colors, values, and details as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cerulean blue · cadmium red

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of other colors. Use glazes of thinned color to create depth and luminosity.

techniques