plate no. 3040
Still life with candle
Gerrit Dou, 1660
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering metallic surfaces, creating subtle gradations of light and shadow, and understanding the principles of chiaroscuro. It also provides practice in capturing the textures of different materials, such as fabric and paper.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the objects and their relative sizes.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the objects, focusing on their overall form and value.
- step 04
Begin to develop the light and shadow on the candle, candlestick, and watch, using layers of thin glazes.
- step 05
Add details to the curtain, creating folds and highlights to suggest its texture.
- step 06
Refine the details of the books, pipe, and paper, paying attention to their edges and surface textures.
- step 07
Add the final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Glaze overall to unify the painting and adjust values.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · Prussian blue · cadmium yellow light
Achieve the golden tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre. Use ivory black and Prussian blue to create the darker shadows in the curtain and background. Add titanium white to create highlights and lighter values.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·rendering metallic surfaces
- ·creating soft edges
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much paint and losing the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
- →Not paying attention to the reflected light on the metallic surfaces.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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