plate no. 6493

Still Life with Lobsters

Nicolae Darascu, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifelobsterswine bottletableclotheggsbread

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly achieving realistic reds and blues, and in capturing the texture of different surfaces with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in arranging a still life composition and rendering light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the still life, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the background and tablecloth.
step 03
Begin layering colors to define the forms, focusing on the lobsters and wine bottle.
step 04
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Refine the details of the lobsters, bread, and other objects, paying attention to texture.
step 06
Adjust the colors and values to create a harmonious and balanced composition.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix reds with white and a touch of yellow ochre for the lobsters. Use ultramarine blue with white and a touch of burnt umber for the blue pot. Achieve the wine color by mixing cadmium red with burnt umber and a touch of ultramarine blue.

techniques