plate no. 6921

Still-Life

oilNorthern Renaissancestill lifemeatstill lifetablefruitfiguresobjects

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex textures and accurately depicting the fall of light on various objects. It also provides practice in creating depth and spatial relationships within a busy composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of major objects.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values with thin washes of color, focusing on the large forms first.
step 03
Develop the background, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 04
Start building up the details of the meat, using layers of color to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Add details to the other objects, such as the fruit, pottery, and metalware, focusing on their unique textures and reflective qualities.
step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows, adding highlights and dark accents to create contrast and visual interest.
step 07
Carefully render the figures in the background, paying attention to their proportions and gestures.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · titanium white

Achieve the fleshy tones of the meat by mixing burnt sienna, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Use raw umber and ivory black to create the dark shadows and subtle variations in the background.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations within each object.
→Getting lost in the complexity of the composition and losing sight of the overall unity.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, titanium white)
·Linseed oil
·Turpentine
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags