plate no. 0595
Still Life With Fruit
Henri Catargi, 1965
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
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 and composition lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted green and brown.
- step 03
Establish the main shapes of the table and fruit bowl with diluted paint.
- step 04
Begin layering colors on the table, mixing reds and browns to achieve the desired tone.
- step 05
Paint the fruit, focusing on capturing the highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 06
Add details to the fruit bowl, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 07
Refine the background and adjust the values to create depth.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow light · sap green · alizarin crimson
Mix burnt sienna and raw umber with white to create the base for the table. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the blue of the bowl. Mute colors by adding small amounts of complementary colors.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing and muting them.
- →Neglecting the importance of value in creating form.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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