plate no. 3913

Plums at the Edge of the Table

Constantin Stahi, 1905

oilRealismstill lifeplumsfruitstill lifetableshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering form with subtle value changes and understanding how light interacts with rounded objects. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through overlapping and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and arrangement of the plums and the table edge.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the plums, paying attention to their local color.
step 04
Begin adding highlights and shadows to define the form of each plum.
step 05
Carefully blend the transitions between light and shadow to create a smooth, rounded appearance.
step 06
Add details such as the stems and any imperfections on the fruit.
step 07
Paint the table surface, considering the light and shadow.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final touches.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · Prussian blue · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the plum colors by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and Prussian blue with varying amounts of white. Use alizarin crimson and cadmium yellow to create warmer tones.

techniques