plate no. 3015

Still Life with Animal Figurine

acrylic, canvas, paintExpressionismstill lifestill lifebooksfigurinevasescurtainmug

suitable for beginners

This painting helps students practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and interest. It's a good exercise in color mixing and understanding how light affects color.

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 onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, table, and main objects.
step 03
Start defining the shapes of the objects with darker and lighter values of the base colors.
step 04
Add details to the books, vases, and mug, focusing on capturing their forms with simple brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the animal figurine on top of the books, using a contrasting color to make it stand out.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details and textures.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · purple · red · green

Mix browns by combining burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Achieve the purples by mixing red and blue. Vary the yellows by adding white or a touch of red/brown.

techniques