plate no. 0273
Still Life with Mallard, Prawns and Savoy
Edward Ladell, 1850
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures like feathers and glass, as well as understanding subtle color variations in shadows and highlights. It also provides practice in arranging a complex still life composition.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of each object.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted colors.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of each object, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the duck, starting with the feathers and then the head.
- step 05
Work on the prawns, capturing their translucent quality and intricate shapes.
- step 06
Paint the cabbage, focusing on the texture and variations in green.
- step 07
Render the lemon and glass, paying attention to highlights and reflections.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create depth and realism.
color palette
primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · viridian
secondary · cadmium red · burnt sienna · ivory black
Achieve the subtle greens by mixing yellow ochre and viridian. Use raw umber and burnt sienna for the wood tones, and mix white with small amounts of other colors to create the highlights.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows.
- →Not capturing the textures of the different objects.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·palette
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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