plate no. 0786
Still Life with Bowl of Pomegranates
Morris Graves, 1964
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing loose watercolor washes and creating form with subtle value changes. Students can learn to simplify shapes and capture the essence of the subject rather than focusing on precise detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the bowl, pomegranates, and background.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue/gray to the background areas, allowing it to dry.
- step 03
Mix a dark brown/red for the liquid inside the bowl and apply a thin wash.
- step 04
Paint the pomegranates with a base of light pink, then add darker reds and shadows.
- step 05
Use orange and yellow for the other fruit, adding texture with short brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add shadows to the bowl and surrounding areas using diluted blues and grays.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the objects and add any final details.
- step 08
Add a light blue wash around the border.
color palette
primary · rose madder · ultramarine blue · raw umber
secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white
Mix rose madder and a touch of raw umber for the pomegranate color. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create various shades of gray for the background and shadows. Add white to lighten the colors.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·watercolor washes
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive feel.
- →Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
- →Not allowing layers to dry completely before adding more.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·Round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
optional
- ·Masking tape
- ·Palette knife
- ·Spray bottle
Use high-quality watercolor paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.
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