plate no. 7969

Still Life with Ham

oilBaroquestill lifestill lifefoodtablefruitglasswareoysters

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures of various objects and understanding light and shadow to create depth. It also provides practice in creating realistic reflections and transparent surfaces.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of each object.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of warm brown.
step 03
Block in the main colors of each object, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and form, starting with the darkest shadows.
step 05
Add highlights and reflections to the glassware and metal objects.
step 06
Develop the textures of the food items, such as the ham, bread, and oysters.
step 07
Refine the details and edges of each object, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the overall atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow light · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve the subtle color variations by mixing small amounts of complementary colors. Use glazes of transparent colors to create depth and luminosity.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering reflective surfaces
·underpainting

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness.
→Not accurately capturing the reflections and highlights.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags