plate no. 5590

Water Lily

Guan Zilan, 1943

oilPost-Impressionismflower paintingflowersvasestill lifewater liliestable

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase, flowers, and stems, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted green, and the table surface with a bright blue.
step 03
Establish the basic colors of the vase, using layers of green and highlights to create a sense of form.
step 04
Begin layering the petals of the flowers, using off-whites, yellows, and touches of pink to capture their delicate color.
step 05
Add details to the flower centers, using oranges and yellows to create a focal point.
step 06
Refine the stems, using browns and greens to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the vase and flowers to enhance the three-dimensional effect.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · viridian green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or ultramarine blue. Achieve the off-white petals by mixing titanium white with small amounts of yellow ochre and alizarin crimson.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·highlighting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create subtle variations.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating a sense of depth.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the vase and flowers.