plate no. 3002

Supper near the Icon

George Stefanescu, 1976

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifepitcherbowlspoonglassicon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with visible brushstrokes and capturing the texture of different surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting reflected light and creating a sense of depth through color and value.

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 onto the canvas, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background colors, focusing on the overall tone and mood.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the objects (pitcher, bowl, glass, spoon, and cloth), using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the objects, such as the rim of the bowl, the handle of the pitcher, and the reflections on the spoon.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle color variations and textures.
step 07
Pay attention to the edges of the objects, softening some and sharpening others to create visual interest.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · titanium white

Achieve the blues and greens by mixing ultramarine with yellow or viridian. The reds are created with alizarin crimson and umber. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overblending, which can flatten the image and lose the texture.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations within each object.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian green, burnt umber, titanium white)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife