plate no. 9568

Still Life with Pots

Petros Malayan, 1990

oilExpressionismstill lifestill lifepotsvasestableceramics

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of form and light without precise detail. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in seemingly monochromatic 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 and placement of the pots and the table.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of muted colors.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on each pot using thin washes.
step 04
Gradually build up color and texture with layers of short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to suggest the form and surface of the pots.
step 06
Add darker accents to define edges and create depth.
step 07
Use dry brush techniques to create texture and highlights.
step 08
Refine the composition and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) with white. Use raw umber and white for various grays. Add small amounts of blue or red to the grays to create subtle color shifts.

techniques