plate no. 3730

Teacups: The Harlequin Set

Grace Cossington Smith, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifeteacupssaucersstill lifetraytablecloth

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice applying visible brushstrokes to build form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the teacups, saucers, and tray.
step 02
Block in the background and tablecloth with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color scheme.
step 03
Begin to define the shapes of the teacups and saucers, paying attention to their individual colors.
step 04
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Mix and apply the colors for the tray, capturing its reflective surface with varying shades of gray and white.
step 06
Refine the details of each teacup and saucer, adding subtle color variations and textures.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance to achieve a harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · gray · blue · purple · yellow

secondary · pink · white · brown

Mix various shades of gray by combining white with small amounts of blue, brown, and yellow. Achieve the teacup colors by mixing primary colors with white to create pastel hues.

techniques

·broken color
·directional brushstrokes
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Ignoring the direction of light and shadow, leading to a flat image.
→Neglecting the subtle color variations within each object.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition.