plate no. 5526

Still Life with Yellow Jar

Kmetty János, 1930

oilImpressionismstill lifestill lifetablefruitjarcupchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and understanding how to depict form with simple brushstrokes. It also provides practice in arranging a still life composition.

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 composition of the still life, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the background and largest shapes.
step 03
Gradually build up layers of paint, adding darker values to create shadows and depth.
step 04
Mix subtle color variations to represent the different surfaces and textures of the objects.
step 05
Define the edges of the objects with careful brushstrokes, softening some edges for a more impressionistic feel.
step 06
Add highlights to create a sense of light and form.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the patterns on the cloth and the shapes of the fruit.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · viridian green · raw umber

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use yellow ochre and ultramarine for the greens, burnt sienna and ultramarine for the browns and grays.

techniques