plate no. 1302

Still Life

Harriet Backer, 1916

oil, canvasNaturalismstill lifestill lifeflowersvasefruitbusttable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and layering brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in observing and representing subtle shifts in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition: the vase, bowl, bust, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted peach/tan.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for each object: the blue vase, green bowl, and dark green bust.
step 04
Start layering colors to define the shapes of the flowers, using reds, whites, and greens.
step 05
Add details to the fruit in the bowl, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 06
Refine the shapes and details of the bust, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Add the patterned fabric behind the bust.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white · sap green

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, red and green) with white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create the warm background.

techniques