plate no. 9414
Still Life with Apples
Paul Cézanne, 1895
experienced study
Students would develop skills in constructing form through color temperature changes and learn Cézanne's method of building volume through carefully observed color relationships rather than traditional light and shadow.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a careful contour drawing, focusing on the geometric relationships between objects
- step 02
Block in the major color areas with mid-tones, establishing the overall color harmony
- step 03
Develop the background wall and table surface with broad, simplified color planes
- step 04
Build the fabric patterns using geometric brushstrokes, simplifying complex decorative elements
- step 05
Model the pottery forms using warm and cool color shifts rather than light and dark contrasts
- step 06
Paint the apples as spherical forms, using color temperature to suggest volume and form
- step 07
Refine edges and color relationships, maintaining the structural integrity of each form
- step 08
Add final touches to enhance the sense of weight and presence of objects
color palette
primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white · raw umber
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows rather than using tube greens; create warm and cool versions of each color family
techniques
- ·Constructive brushwork using directional strokes
- ·Color modulation to create form
- ·Geometric simplification of complex patterns
- ·Parallel brushstrokes for consistent surface treatment
- ·Color temperature shifts for volume modeling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the brushstrokes and losing the structural clarity
- →Using traditional chiaroscuro instead of color relationships for form
- →Making the fabric patterns too detailed and losing geometric simplicity
- →Rushing the careful observation of color relationships between objects
materials
surface · primed canvas 18x24 inches or similar proportion
required
- ·#6 and #10 flat hog bristle brushes
- ·#4 filbert brush
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·cadmium red medium oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife for mixing
- ·medium gloss varnish
- ·#2 round detail brush
- ·raw umber oil paint
Use a limited palette to maintain color harmony; have plenty of mixing space on palette
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