plate no. 2158

Still life named : The afternoon sun

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifevasesstill lifetablewheatshadowspainting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing to achieve vibrant hues and learn to capture light and shadow using bold brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

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 of the vases, table, and background objects.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for each object using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and lightest highlights to define the forms.
step 04
Begin layering thicker paint, focusing on capturing the direction and texture of the brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Add details to the wheat stalks and the rims of the vases.
step 07
Refine the edges and adjust the overall composition as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows for emphasis.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red · titanium white

Mix various shades of yellow by combining yellow ochre with white and small amounts of green or red. Create shadows by adding burnt umber and ultramarine blue to the base colors.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color temperature variation
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Losing the freshness and spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast to create form.
→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, viridian green, cadmium red, titanium white)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife