plate no. 9675

Things on an iron tray on the floor

Grace Cossington Smith, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismstill lifestill lifetraypitchersbottlestablewarekitchenware

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, understanding light and shadow, and capturing form with visible brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations within objects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the objects on the tray.
step 02
Establish the background colors, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 03
Block in the main colors of each object, paying attention to the overall color harmony.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to define the forms, using a variety of color mixtures.
step 05
Develop the details of each object, such as the handles, rims, and reflections.
step 06
Refine the brushstrokes, varying the direction and pressure to create texture and interest.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to achieve a cohesive composition.
step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · yellow ochre

Achieve the various pinks and purples by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue with varying amounts of titanium white. Greens are created by mixing ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow, with burnt umber added to tone down the intensity.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Over-blending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Ignoring the direction of light and shadow.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations within each object.
→Getting lost in details too early.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·titanium white oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·cadmium yellow oil paint
·alizarin crimson oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#8 flat brush
·palette

optional

·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·medium gloss

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to encourage color mixing and create a harmonious composition.

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