plate no. 1607

Still Life with Catalogue

Roman Selsky, 1926

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifechairtablepitcherbookshat

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and using color to define planes and create depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the objects (chair, table, pitcher, books, etc.).
step 02
Block in the main color areas for each object and the background, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Refine the shapes and add details to the objects, such as the chair rungs and the pitcher's handle.
step 04
Develop the background pattern with small, repetitive brushstrokes.
step 05
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the edges of the objects and adjust the colors as needed.
step 07
Add final details, such as the book's cover design and the hat's texture.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · red-orange · yellow · ivory · dark brown

secondary · blue · grey · red

Mix various shades of brown and grey by combining primary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix red and yellow to achieve the red-orange hues.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·scumbling
·simplification of form
·visible brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Failing to simplify the forms and creating overly complex shapes.
→Not paying attention to the value structure and creating a flat, uninteresting painting.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.