plate no. 7588

Sunflowers

Boris Grigoriev, 1919

oilCubismlandscapesunflowersfiguresanimalslandscapebuildingsfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing the essence of a scene through simplified shapes and expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with non-traditional color palettes and abstracting forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition: sunflowers, figures, animals, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with diluted washes, focusing on overall color harmony.
step 03
Begin layering colors, building up depth and complexity in the sunflowers and foliage.
step 04
Add details to the figures and animals, using simplified shapes and expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the background elements, such as the buildings and landscape, with loose brushwork.
step 06
Pay attention to the interplay of light and shadow, adding highlights and lowlights to create form.
step 07
Add final details and adjustments to enhance the overall composition and mood.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary corrections or refinements.

color palette

primary · yellow · green · blue · orange

secondary · brown · purple · white

Achieve the sunflower yellows by mixing yellow with touches of orange and white. Create the foliage greens by mixing blue and yellow, and experiment with adding brown or purple for muted tones.

techniques

·color layering
·broken color
·expressive brushwork
·simplified shapes
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing and creating harmony.
→Neglecting the importance of light and shadow in creating form.
→Getting bogged down in realism and losing the abstract quality.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium

optional

·easel
·painting rags
·varnish
·retarder

Use a variety of brush sizes to achieve different textures and effects. Consider using a palette knife for applying thicker paint and creating impasto effects.

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