plate no. 8143

Still Life with Figs

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifepitchersfigstablefruitceramics

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying shapes and using bold brushstrokes to define form. It also provides a good exercise in color mixing to achieve the specific hues used.

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.
step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of blue paint.
step 03
Roughly fill in the main color areas of each object (pitchers, figs, plate).
step 04
Add darker tones to create shadows and volume.
step 05
Introduce lighter tones to represent highlights.
step 06
Define the outlines of the objects with darker, contrasting colors.
step 07
Add details like the stripes on the yellow pitcher and the texture on the figs.
step 08
Refine the edges and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · purple · black

Mix different shades of green by combining sap green with yellow ochre and a touch of blue. Create the purple stripes by mixing red and blue. Lighten colors by adding white.

techniques

·blocking in
·impasto
·color mixing
·simplifying shapes
·outlining

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
→Not simplifying the shapes enough, resulting in a cluttered composition.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·paint thinner or brush cleaner

optional

·easel
·medium gloss
·retarder medium

Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. Acrylic paints are recommended for beginners due to their fast drying time and ease of use. For oil paints, use a well-ventilated area.

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