plate no. 9533

Still life with Icon

George Stefanescu, 1980

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifeflowersvasepoticontable

some experience helpful

This painting is a great exercise in capturing light and shadow with thick, expressive brushstrokes. Recreating this will help students understand how to build form with color and texture.

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 of the vase, pot, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: yellow for the table, green for the background, and red for the icon.
step 03
Start building up the texture with thick, short brushstrokes, focusing on the direction of light.
step 04
Mix and apply variations of yellow, green, and red to create depth and interest.
step 05
Add details to the vase and pot, using grays and whites to suggest the metallic surface.
step 06
Paint the flowers and leaves, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final touches.
step 08
Let it dry and add a varnish to protect the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · sap green · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · violet

Mix white with yellow ochre for the table highlights. Create various greens by mixing sap green with yellow and blue. Use burnt umber and white to create the grays for the vase.

techniques