plate no. 1526

Roses

Nicolae Vermont, 1915

oilRealismflower paintingflowersrosesvasestill lifetablecloth

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly achieving subtle variations in pinks and reds, and in creating texture through brushwork to represent the petals and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vase, the flower arrangement, and the background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color for the background, vase, and flowers using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the layers of color in the vase, focusing on capturing the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Start adding details to the flowers, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the petals.
step 05
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value to create depth.
step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, including the tablecloth and any other objects.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of realism.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to color, value, or composition.

color palette

primary · rose madder · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · burnt umber

Achieve the various pinks by mixing rose madder and titanium white in different ratios. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm tones in the background and vase. Add small amounts of viridian to darken and cool the greens.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry layering
·impasto
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, leading to a flat and unconvincing painting.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a harsh and unnatural palette.
→Ignoring the importance of edges, leading to a lack of depth and realism.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (rose madder, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, viridian, burnt umber)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·rags