plate no. 1859

Study in Grey

Emil Carlsen, 1906

oilRealismstill lifestill lifepotpitcherbowlclothtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle value transitions and rendering realistic textures with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in accurately depicting the form and light interaction on simple objects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the objects, paying attention to their proportions and relationships to each other.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral gray.
step 03
Block in the main value areas of each object, starting with the darkest shadows and lightest highlights.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes and values of each object, gradually building up layers of paint.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle gradations of light and shadow on the rounded surfaces.
step 06
Add details such as the handles, rims, and folds in the cloth.
step 07
Soften edges where necessary to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a harmonious and realistic effect.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Achieve the various gray tones by mixing ivory black and titanium white in different ratios. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm up the grays. Use burnt umber for the darkest shadows.

techniques