plate no. 6313

Still Life with Lychees

Fujishima Takeji, 1931

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifefruitbowlstill lifelycheesleavestable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice loose brushwork and color mixing to create form and texture. It also provides an opportunity to study the effects of light and shadow on simple objects.

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 bowl, fruit, and branches.
step 02
Block in the background with light, broken brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main color of the bowl, paying attention to variations in tone.
step 04
Paint the fruit with a base color, then add darker and lighter accents to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 05
Add the leaves, using different shades of green and yellow.
step 06
Paint the branches, using thin, varied strokes.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows.

color palette

primary · viridian green · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre and white. Create the red fruit color by mixing cadmium red with a touch of burnt umber for darker areas and white for highlights. Use white to lighten the background and create subtle variations.

techniques