plate no. 9372
Still Life
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in observing and representing the subtle variations in color and value within a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the objects.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone to tone the canvas.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas for each object and the background, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to build up depth and form, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Pay attention to the highlights and shadows on each object, adjusting the values as needed.
- step 06
Add details and refine the edges of the objects.
- step 07
Create texture in the background with varied brushstrokes and color variations.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · crimson
secondary · titanium white · viridian green
Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create dark browns and blacks. Use yellow ochre and white to create the warm background. Add small amounts of crimson to the brown mixtures for the vase.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, leading to muddy tones
- →Ignoring the value structure and focusing only on color
- →Applying paint too thickly in the early stages
- →Not varying brushstrokes to create texture
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·crimson oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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