plate no. 1787

Still Life with Author's Sculpture

Adalbert Erdeli, 1930

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifevasesculptureleavestablebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and form. It's also a good exercise in observing subtle shifts in value and color within a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, sculpture, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the forms, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the vase and sculpture, refining their shapes and textures.
step 05
Work on the background, blending colors to create depth and atmosphere.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the objects.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, adjusting colors and values as needed.
step 08
Add final touches and let dry.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Titanium white

secondary · Yellow ochre · Cadmium red light · Sap green

Mix muted greens by combining Prussian blue, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the red hues by mixing cadmium red light with burnt umber and a touch of white for highlights.

techniques

·Color mixing
·Layering
·Dry brushing
·Blending
·Impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the colors and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Ignoring the subtle value shifts and creating a flat image.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas
·Prussian blue oil paint
·Burnt umber oil paint
·Titanium white oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush
·Palette
·Odorless mineral spirits

optional

·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Medium gloss

Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to focus on color mixing and value control.

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