plate no. 7688

Still Life. Orchids and Leaves

Rita Angus, 1949

oilRegionalismflower paintingstill lifeleavesflowersvaseshadowtablecloth

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in color mixing and layering to achieve subtle variations in tone. Recreating it will help students understand how to depict form through light and shadow.

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 vase, leaves, and flowers, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of yellow ochre to the background.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the tablecloth with a diluted blue.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the vase, starting with light washes of yellow ochre and adding shadows with burnt umber and a touch of blue.
step 05
Paint the leaves, focusing on the color variations within each leaf using reds, blues, and greens.
step 06
Add details to the flowers, using white and subtle yellows and browns.
step 07
Create the shadow on the background with a mix of burnt umber and yellow ochre.
step 08
Refine details and add final highlights.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · sap green

Mix yellow ochre with burnt umber for the vase's shadows. Use ultramarine blue and cadmium red to create the purplish hues in the leaves. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·color mixing
·dry brushing
·blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the washes.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations within the leaves.
→Making the shadows too dark or harsh.
→Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, sap green)
·round brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil
·eraser