plate no. 2014

Still Life with Snakes, Frogs, Mushrooms, Flowers and Butterflies

oilBaroqueflower paintingsnakesfrogsmushroomsflowersbutterfliesinsects

experienced study

Recreating this painting will develop skills in rendering textures of various surfaces and understanding complex compositions with multiple focal points. Students will also learn to create depth using atmospheric perspective and subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a dark umber wash.
step 02
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the snake, frog, and flowers.
step 03
Block in the darkest values first, establishing the shadows and overall tonal range.
step 04
Start building up the mid-tones and highlights, focusing on the texture of the snake's scales and the frog's skin.
step 05
Carefully render the details of the flowers and mushrooms, paying attention to their form and color variations.
step 06
Add the butterflies and other insects, using thin glazes to create a sense of translucence.
step 07
Refine the background, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · sap green

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing raw umber, burnt sienna, and ivory black with varying amounts of titanium white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for highlights on the mushrooms and butterflies. Mix alizarin crimson with burnt sienna for the red accents on the flowers.

techniques