plate no. 2572

Plastic Boxes

Janet Fish, 2007

oilContemporary Realismstill lifeflowersvasesboxesstill lifetablegeometric shapes

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, rendering transparent and reflective surfaces, and understanding complex compositions with multiple light sources. It also helps to improve observational skills and the ability to translate three-dimensional forms onto a two-dimensional surface.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the vases and boxes.
step 02
Establish the background colors and patterns, working from general to specific.
step 03
Block in the main colors of each vase and box, paying attention to the local color and how it is affected by light and shadow.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and forms, adding details such as the edges of the boxes and the contours of the vases.
step 05
Mix and apply colors to represent the transparency and reflections on the glass and plastic surfaces.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the flowers, paying attention to their color and form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition, color, and value to create a cohesive and visually appealing painting.

color palette

primary · yellow · red · blue · purple

secondary · green · orange · pink

Achieve the transparent colors by layering thin washes and glazes. Mix colors on the canvas to create subtle variations and optical effects.

techniques

·glazing
·color layering
·rendering transparency
·optical color mixing
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Oversimplifying the color palette and not capturing the subtle variations in hue and value.
→Failing to accurately represent the transparency and reflections on the glass and plastic surfaces.
→Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the overall composition.
→Not paying enough attention to the light source and how it affects the colors and shadows.