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home·artworks·Posy of Flowers, with a Red Admiral Butterfly, on a Marble Ledge
Posy of Flowers, with a Red Admiral Butterfly, on a Marble Ledge by Rachel Ruysch

plate no. 5721

Posy of Flowers, with a Red Admiral Butterfly, on a Marble Ledge

Rachel Ruysch, 1695

oilBaroqueflower paintingflowersbutterflyleavesmarble ledgestill lifeinsects
experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic floral forms, understanding subtle color variations in light and shadow, and creating a sense of depth through layering and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Sketch the basic shapes and composition of the flowers, leaves, and butterfly on the canvas.

  2. step 02

    Block in the background with a dark, muted tone.

  3. step 03

    Establish the main color masses for each flower and leaf, focusing on accurate value relationships.

  4. step 04

    Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension within each element.

  5. step 05

    Add highlights and shadows to define the forms and create a sense of realism.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details of the flowers, leaves, and butterfly, paying attention to texture and form.

  7. step 07

    Paint the marble ledge, focusing on the subtle variations in color and tone.

  8. step 08

    Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson · viridian

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw umber

Achieve the subtle color variations by mixing small amounts of complementary colors. Use glazes to build up depth and luminosity.

techniques

  • ·glazing
  • ·scumbling
  • ·dry brushing
  • ·layering
  • ·color mixing

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the details too early in the process.
  • →Failing to establish accurate value relationships.
  • →Using colors that are too saturated.
  • →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·cadmium orange oil paint
  • ·alizarin crimson oil paint
  • ·viridian oil paint
  • ·ultramarine blue oil paint
  • ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
  • ·linseed oil

optional

  • ·palette knife
  • ·retouch varnish
  • ·medium

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to simplify the initial stages of painting.

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related guides

oil painting for beginners →chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
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