plate no. 0390

Still Life with Violin and Glass Ball

oilBaroquestill lifeviolinskullglass ballbooksstill lifemusical instrument

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures and capturing subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also provides practice in accurately depicting reflective surfaces and complex forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the placement and proportions of the main objects.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral tone, paying attention to the subtle gradations of value.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the major objects, such as the violin, skull, and glass ball.
step 04
Begin refining the details of each object, focusing on accurate rendering of textures and forms.
step 05
Pay close attention to the highlights and shadows on the reflective surfaces, such as the glass ball and the violin's varnish.
step 06
Carefully blend the edges of the objects to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the smaller details, such as the strings of the violin, the details of the watch, and the texture of the books.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ochre · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · Prussian blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

Achieve the subtle variations in tone by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of the secondary colors. Use white to lighten the values and black to darken them. For the glass ball, mix blues and blacks with white to create the reflective highlights.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·underpainting
·rendering reflective surfaces

common pitfalls

→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the objects.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle gradations of value.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
→Struggling to render the reflective surfaces realistically.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ochre, raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, Prussian blue, burnt sienna)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags