plate no. 0152

The Plaster Cast

Matthew Smith, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifeplaster castflowerstabledraperyclock

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice loose, expressive brushwork to capture form and texture. It also encourages observation of light and shadow on complex forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the plaster cast, the table, the clock, and the background elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value and temperature of each area.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes and forms, paying attention to the light and shadow on the plaster cast.
step 04
Add details to the flowers and the clock, using smaller brushstrokes and more saturated colors.
step 05
Work on the background drapery, using vertical strokes to create the striped pattern.
step 06
Refine the edges of the objects and add any final details.
step 07
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or value.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red · viridian

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., red and green) with white or raw umber. Use viridian and yellow ochre to create the green tones.

techniques