plate no. 3088

Still Life With Watermelons

Constantin Stahi, 1912

oilRealismstill lifewatermelonbottleglassknifestill lifetable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve realistic flesh tones and practice rendering reflective surfaces like the glass and bottle. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

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, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the watermelon slices, bottle, and glass.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of brown and umber tones.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the watermelon flesh, rind, bottle, and glass, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes and adding details to the watermelon, including the seeds and variations in color.
step 05
Develop the form of the bottle and glass, paying attention to highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Add details to the knife and the plate, capturing their textures and forms.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · ivory black

Mix various shades of red with white and umber to achieve the different tones in the watermelon flesh. Use a combination of green and umber for the rind. Mix black and umber for the bottle.

techniques