plate no. 5927

Still Life with Coffee Pot and Melon

Roger de La Fresnaye, 1911

oil, canvasCubismstill lifestill lifecoffee potmelontablebowlsgeometric forms

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify forms into geometric shapes and use a limited palette to create a cohesive composition. It also provides practice in observing and representing light and shadow in a stylized manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas, focusing on the placement of the coffee pot, melon, and bowls.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then the table.
step 03
Define the shapes of the objects with darker values, paying attention to the geometric forms.
step 04
Add highlights to the coffee pot and bowls to create a sense of depth and form.
step 05
Mix and apply the yellow for the melon, using darker shades to define the segments.
step 06
Refine the edges and details, using short, visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Add the white outlines to the coffee pot handle and other areas for emphasis.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve the various browns by mixing burnt umber with white and small amounts of yellow ochre. Use black sparingly to darken values. The melon color is a mix of yellow ochre and a touch of burnt umber for shading.

techniques