plate no. 8120

Still Life with Pitchers

Antonio Sicurezza, 1969

oilPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowerspitchersfruitwindowstill lifetable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the unique shapes and patterns of decorative objects. It also offers practice in observing and representing subtle color variations in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the pitchers, fruit, and window.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the background, table, and window frame using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the pitchers, paying attention to the patterns and highlights.
step 04
Add the flowers, using short, textured brushstrokes to capture their form.
step 05
Paint the fruit, focusing on the variations in color and light.
step 06
Refine the details of the window frame and table, adding shadows and highlights.
step 07
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Varnish the painting after it is completely dry.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · titanium white · ivory black

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Achieve the blues in the pitcher by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of black. Create the yellows of the flowers by mixing cadmium yellow with yellow ochre and white for highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20 inches
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, viridian green, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, titanium white, ivory black)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags