plate no. 2643
Three Cherries
Mary Fedden, 2000
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing simplified shapes and color blocking. Students will learn to represent form with minimal detail and visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the glass, fruits, and melon on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with a light gray or off-white.
- step 03
Paint the glass using white and light gray, paying attention to the subtle shadows.
- step 04
Mix the pink color for the fruits and apply it in bold strokes.
- step 05
Paint the cherries with a deep red, adding highlights for form.
- step 06
Mix the orange color for the melon and add the black seeds.
- step 07
Add the leaf with green and brown, using visible brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the shapes and colors as needed, keeping the style simple and bold.
color palette
primary · white · pink · red · orange
secondary · light gray · green · brown · black
Mix pink by combining red and white. Create the melon color by mixing orange with a touch of yellow. Use white to lighten the background and glass.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified shapes
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·layering
- ·wet-on-dry
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simple, naive style.
- →Blending colors too much, resulting in a muddy look.
- →Making the shapes too realistic and losing the charm of the simplified forms.
- →Not paying attention to the light and shadow, resulting in a flat image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·White paint
- ·Red paint
- ·Pink paint
- ·Orange paint
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·Palette
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Medium gloss
- ·Easel
Use thick paint to achieve visible brushstrokes. Acrylics are recommended for beginners due to their quick drying time.
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