plate no. 1711
The Apple Peeler
Gabriel Metsu, 1657
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, still life arrangement, and achieving realistic skin tones and fabric textures. Students will also learn about creating depth through atmospheric perspective and subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
- step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: skin tones, clothing, apples, and rabbit.
- step 04
Develop the figure's face, paying attention to subtle value changes and highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, focusing on folds and textures.
- step 06
Refine the still life elements (apples, basket, rabbit) with careful observation.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Apply final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · viridian green
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the red of the dress by mixing cadmium red with burnt umber for shadows and white for highlights. Create the green of the skirt with viridian green and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·portraiture
- ·still life
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·mahl stick
Use a high-quality canvas primed with oil-based primer for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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