plate no. 3798
The Etching Table
Mary Fedden, 1971
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex shapes and capturing the essence of objects with loose brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve muted tones.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and arrangement of the objects on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value and tone of each object and background.
- step 03
Start defining the shapes of the objects, paying attention to the negative space around them.
- step 04
Add details to the objects, such as the stripes on the bottle and the lettering on the paint can.
- step 05
Create depth by layering colors and adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Use dry brush techniques to add texture to the surfaces.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the objects and adjust the colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · ivory black
secondary · purple · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and white for the neutral tones. Add small amounts of red or black to adjust the warmth or coolness. Use yellow ochre for highlights on the bottle.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·color layering
- ·simplification of form
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive brushstrokes.
- →Making the colors too bright and saturated.
- →Getting bogged down in details and losing the overall composition.
- →Not paying attention to the negative space around the objects.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a limited palette to achieve the muted tones of the painting. Experiment with different brushstrokes to create texture and interest.
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