plate no. 8425

Still Life

Jose Pancetti, 1939

oilExpressionismstill lifestill lifeorangesplant potbottleleavestable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting form with simplified shapes and understanding color relationships in a limited palette. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the objects: bottle, pot, oranges, and leaves.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main colors of each object: orange for the fruits, terracotta for the pot, dark green/brown for the bottle, and green for the leaves.
step 04
Begin to build up the values within each object, adding highlights and shadows to define form.
step 05
Use short, visible brushstrokes to create texture on the surfaces of the objects.
step 06
Mix subtle variations of color to add depth and interest to the oranges and the pot.
step 07
Refine the shapes and edges of the objects, paying attention to the negative space around them.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · terracotta · orange · olive green · gray

secondary · brown · yellow · dark green · white

Mix oranges by blending yellow, red, and a touch of brown. Achieve terracotta by mixing red, yellow, and a small amount of brown and white. Create muted greens by mixing green with gray or brown.

techniques

·blocking in
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations within each object.
→Making the outlines too sharp and defined.
→Ignoring the importance of the background color in creating a sense of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints: terracotta, orange, olive green, gray, brown, yellow, dark green, white
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags