plate no. 1853

Still Life with White Jar, Orange and Book

Vilhelm Lundstrom, 1933

oilCubismstill lifestill lifejarorangebookshadowtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying forms into geometric shapes and understanding how light and shadow define volume. It also provides practice in color mixing and creating smooth gradients.

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 their placement on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a flat layer of blue paint.
step 03
Establish the basic colors for each object (jar, orange, book, table).
step 04
Begin to define the light and shadow areas on each object, blending carefully.
step 05
Refine the shapes and edges of the objects, paying attention to the geometric forms.
step 06
Add highlights and subtle color variations to create depth.
step 07
Paint the cast shadows, ensuring they accurately reflect the light source.
step 08
Make final adjustments to color, value, and edges to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium orange · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light

Mix white with small amounts of orange and red to achieve the pinkish tones of the jar. Use burnt umber and white to create the brown tones of the book. Mix ultramarine blue with white to create the background.

techniques