plate no. 4985

Still life with books and mandolin

Antonio Sicurezza, 1957

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifebooksmandolinstill lifevasebrushestable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding color relationships in a complex still life. Students will also learn to depict the form and texture of various objects using oil paint.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition of the still life, paying attention to the placement of the objects.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for each object (books, mandolin, vase, background) with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin layering paint to build up the form and volume of each object, focusing on the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the books, such as the titles and page edges, using smaller brushes.
step 05
Create texture on the mandolin and vase using visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the background and add any final details to complete the painting.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the objects.
step 08
Check for overall balance and harmony in the composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and ochre for the books, vase, and table. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix greens from blue and yellow.

techniques

·layering
·dry brush
·color mixing
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Not paying attention to the light and shadow, resulting in a flat image.
→Getting the proportions of the objects wrong.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags