plate no. 9195

Vase with flowers and book by the window

David Burliuk, 1954

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowersvasewindowstill lifebookfruit

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create texture and capturing the subtle color variations in light and shadow. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms like flowers and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the vase, flowers, window frame, book, and fruit.
step 02
Block in the background colors, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the vase, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest its texture.
step 04
Begin layering the flower colors, starting with the darker tones and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Paint the book and fruit, paying attention to the way light reflects off their surfaces.
step 06
Add details to the window frame and background, refining the shapes and colors.
step 07
Introduce subtle color variations and highlights to the flowers and vase to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Achieve the various flower colors by mixing white with small amounts of crimson, yellow, and blue. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the warm tones of the wood and fruit. Mix blue and white for the window.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the flowers, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the light and shadow areas.
→Using too much paint, which can make the painting look heavy and muddy.
→Neglecting the background, which can detract from the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags

optional

·painting medium
·varnish
·easel

Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paints.

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