plate no. 2124
Still Life with Fruit and Flowers
Mary Fedden, 1988
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning about simplifying shapes and using bold brushstrokes to create texture. Students can practice color mixing to achieve the vibrant hues of the flowers and fruit.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the flowers, fruit, vase, and table.
- step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of muted browns and grays.
- step 03
Paint the table with a light gray or off-white, defining its edges.
- step 04
Add the vase using simple vertical strokes, suggesting its transparency.
- step 05
Paint the fruit with a base layer of green, then add highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Block in the main colors of the flowers: red, yellow, white, and pink.
- step 07
Add details to the flowers, such as petals and centers, using thicker paint.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add final touches to the composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cadmium red · cadmium yellow · sap green
secondary · burnt umber · magenta · black · gray
Mix greens by combining yellow and blue. Create muted browns by mixing umber with white and a touch of red or yellow. Achieve the pinks by mixing red and white.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·simplifying shapes
- ·color mixing
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details.
- →Using too many colors.
- →Not simplifying the shapes enough.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·apron
- ·varnish
Use heavy body acrylics for better texture. A medium can be used to slow drying time.
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