plate no. 8312

Still Life

Konstantinos Parthenis, 1935

oil, canvasCubismstill lifestill lifefruitwine bottleglasstablebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand layering techniques and how to create a sense of depth and form using a limited color palette. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes into geometric forms, characteristic of Cubism.

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 composition of the still life, focusing on the geometric forms.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown/beige.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the fruit bowl, bottle, and glass with light washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering darker tones to define the shadows and create depth.
step 05
Add the blue background behind the bottle and glass.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations within the fruit and other objects.
step 07
Refine the outlines and details, paying attention to the overlapping shapes.
step 08
Add final highlights to create a sense of light and form.

color palette

primary · beige · brown · white

secondary · blue · red · grey

Achieve the various beige and brown tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use small amounts of blue and red to create subtle color variations.

techniques