plate no. 6189

Still life with jug

Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1907

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifejugfruitbowltableoranges

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, as well as understanding how to represent different textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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 jug, bowls, and fruit, focusing on their relative sizes and placement.
step 02
Establish the background color with a dark, muted tone, allowing for variations in value.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the jug, using a mix of browns, oranges, and reds. Pay attention to the light source and create shadows.
step 04
Paint the bowls and fruit with their respective colors, blending slightly to create rounded forms.
step 05
Add details to the jug, such as the handle and spout, using darker tones to define their shapes.
step 06
Refine the colors and values of the fruit and bowls, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add texture to the painting by using visible brushstrokes, especially in the jug and background.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the dark background. Use cadmium orange and yellow ochre with white for the fruit. Mix burnt umber with cadmium orange and a touch of ultramarine for the jug.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·visible brushstrokes

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Not paying attention to the light source, leading to inconsistent shadows.
→Getting the proportions of the objects wrong in the initial sketch.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a lack of depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (burnt umber, cadmium orange, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, sap green, titanium white)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags