plate no. 6113
Still Life
Alfred William Finch, 1923
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering form with subtle value changes and capturing the texture of different materials using visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in composing a still life arrangement and observing light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the objects.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of green and brown.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the pottery, apples, fabric, and glass with their respective base colors.
- step 04
Begin adding shadows and highlights to define the forms, focusing on the light source.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the pottery and fabric with visible brushstrokes, using thicker paint.
- step 06
Refine the details of the apples and glass, paying attention to reflections and highlights.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and harmony.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · red ochre
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green
Mix various shades of brown and red by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and red ochre. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of green to neutralize the reds and browns.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
- →Getting the proportions of the objects wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, red ochre, cadmium red, yellow ochre, sap green, titanium white)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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