plate no. 0054
Still Life with Quince
Sergey Belik, 2008
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone and value, as well as understanding how light and shadow define form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of the dominant color.
- step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the pitcher and fruit with simplified colors.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to define the form of the pitcher, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Develop the colors and textures of the fruit, focusing on subtle color variations.
- step 06
Paint the tablecloth, capturing the soft folds and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details of the leaves and stems.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the objects.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson
Mix white with small amounts of blue and crimson for the pitcher and background. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber with touches of red and white for the fruit. Mix greens with blue, yellow, and white for the leaves.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·value control
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations within objects.
- →Oversimplifying the shadows and highlights.
- →Not paying attention to the shapes of the shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a smooth canvas for easier blending. Consider using a medium to improve the flow of the paint.
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