plate no. 5078
Still Life Blue
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive composition. It also encourages expressive brushwork and understanding of light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the table and objects.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Refine the shapes and edges of the objects, paying attention to the angles and proportions.
- step 04
Add details such as the books, jar, and glass, using thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes.
- step 05
Create shadows and highlights to give the objects depth and dimension.
- step 06
Add the background details, such as the door and the wall, using a similar style of brushwork.
- step 07
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · payne's gray · raw umber
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
Mix white with small amounts of Payne's gray and raw umber to create various shades of gray. Use burnt sienna to add warmth to the browns and grays.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·simplification of form
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.
- →Not paying attention to the overall value structure of the painting.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a slightly textured canvas to enhance the broken color effect.
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