plate no. 9726

Stillleben mit Geranien und Schale

Helen Dahm, 1950

oilExpressionismstill lifestill lifeflowersfruittablebowlchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and layering brushstrokes to build texture and form. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes and capturing the essence of the subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the flower pot, bowl, fruit, and chair, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: the red of the flowers, the green of the leaves and pears, the pink of the bowl, and the background colors.
step 03
Start layering colors to create depth and dimension within each object, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the flowers, leaves, and fruit, using small brushstrokes to define their forms.
step 05
Refine the background and the table surface, adding subtle color variations and textures.
step 06
Define the edges of the objects with slightly darker or lighter tones to create separation.
step 07
Add the cast shadows to ground the objects on the table.
step 08
Step back and make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · sap green · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix white with red and umber to achieve the various pinks. Use a mix of green, umber and blue for the pears and leaves. Muted tones are achieved by mixing complementary colors.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·broken color
·scumbling
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Neglecting the importance of shadows and highlights.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the objects.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium
·odorless mineral spirits or water

optional

·easel
·painting medium
·varnish

Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for visible brushstrokes. Oil paints will provide a richer color and blending capability, but acrylics are a good alternative for faster drying.

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