plate no. 6631

Still Life with Lillies

Irma Stern, 1957

oilPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowersvasefruitstill lifetablewindow

some experience helpful

This painting helps students practice expressive brushstrokes and color mixing to create form and texture. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise details.

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 and composition: vase, flowers, fruit bowl, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for each object using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, focusing on the flower petals and leaves with visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the vase and fruit, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Define the background and table surface, using contrasting colors to create depth.
step 06
Refine the shapes and colors, adding final touches to the flowers and fruit.
step 07
Add small details and highlights to the newspaper.
step 08
Step back and adjust the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · titanium white · cadmium yellow light

Mix red and yellow for the flower petals, blue and yellow for greens, and umber with blue or red for darker tones. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Ignoring the underlying structure and form of the objects.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, sap green, titanium white, cadmium yellow light)
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags