plate no. 7738

Poppies

Victor Zaretsky, 1980

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowerspoppiesfieldlandscapevegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and form, and how to mix colors to create a vibrant, impressionistic feel. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main poppy shapes.
step 02
Apply a base layer of color to the entire canvas, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint with short, expressive brushstrokes, focusing on the background foliage.
step 04
Mix various shades of red and orange to create the poppy flowers, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the flowers and foliage to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Use small dabs of color to represent smaller flowers and details in the field.
step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · cadmium yellow · sap green · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue, and create various shades of red by adding white, yellow, or brown. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques