plate no. 5626

Still Life

Balthus, 1956

oil, canvasMagic Realismstill lifestill lifefruitlandscapetableleaveshill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations and practice layering techniques to create depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the fruit and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the background landscape with thin washes of color, building up the hills and trees.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the fruit, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the fruit to create form and depth, blending carefully.
step 05
Add details to the fruit, such as stems, leaves, and blemishes.
step 06
Refine the background, adding details to the trees and hills.
step 07
Paint the table surface, capturing the subtle variations in color and texture.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of green or yellow. Use glazes of thinned color to create depth and luminosity.

techniques