plate no. 9644

Stove

Alex Colville, 1988

oilContemporary Realismgenre paintingdogwomanstoveinteriortile floordomestic scene

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering form with subtle value changes and creating a sense of depth through linear perspective and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the main elements (stove, dog, woman).
step 02
Block in the large shapes with basic colors, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Refine the shapes and forms, paying attention to the subtle value gradations on the dog and the woman's dress.
step 04
Add details to the stove, including the AGA logo and the door.
step 05
Render the tile floor using linear perspective to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, ensuring that the overall painting has a cohesive and realistic appearance.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue for the stove, using white to lighten and umber to darken. Achieve the dog's fur color by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Create the tile floor color by mixing burnt umber and raw sienna.

techniques