plate no. 5490

Vase of Flowers I

Prudence Heward, 1946

oilExpressionismflower paintingflowersvasetreeslandscapefoliagewindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with visible brushstrokes and capturing the essence of a subject rather than precise details. It's also a good exercise in understanding color relationships and creating depth through color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and background landscape.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the background, focusing on the overall color scheme.
step 03
Start layering the colors of the vase, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Add the flowers, using short, expressive brushstrokes to capture their texture and form.
step 05
Refine the details of the landscape, adding trees and foliage with bold brushstrokes.
step 06
Adjust the colors and values to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · sap green · alizarin crimson · violet · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create various shades of purple by mixing alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry layering
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Focusing too much on details and losing the overall impression.
→Using too much white, which can flatten the colors.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a monotonous texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, titanium white, sap green, alizarin crimson, violet, burnt sienna)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags