plate no. 9080

Sunflower

Morris Graves, 1933

oilExpressionismstill lifesunflowersvasebookstablestill lifeinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing with a limited palette and capturing form with visible brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes.

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 of the vase, sunflowers, books, and table, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the table and books using a mix of burnt umber and a touch of black.
step 04
Begin building up the form of the vase with layers of brown and ochre, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Add the sunflowers, starting with the dark centers and then layering the petals with yellows and greens.
step 06
Introduce highlights on the vase and books to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the sunflowers, adding texture and variation to the petals.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · sap green · raw sienna

Achieve the various browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and white. Use sap green and yellow ochre to create the sunflower greens, and white to lighten the tones.

techniques