plate no. 9773

Still Life with Herring

oilBaroquestill lifestill lifefishbreadglasstableclothplate

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures, especially the reflective surfaces of the glass and metal, and understanding subtle value shifts to create form. It also provides practice in creating a believable sense of depth and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the placement and proportions of the objects.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of warm brown tones.
step 03
Establish the dark and light areas on the tablecloth, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 04
Paint the glass, paying close attention to the highlights and reflections.
step 05
Render the fish and plate, capturing the metallic sheen and texture.
step 06
Paint the bread, using warm colors and soft edges to create a sense of volume.
step 07
Add details such as the knife handle and any small objects on the table.
step 08
Refine the values and edges to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Achieve the metallic sheen by mixing white with small amounts of black and umber. Create the warm tones of the bread by blending sienna, ochre, and white. Use thin glazes of umber to deepen shadows.

techniques