plate no. 8768
White Carnations
Henri Fantin-Latour, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting subtle color variations in white objects and creating depth through layering and glazing techniques. It also provides practice in rendering transparent objects like the glass vase.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the vase and flower arrangement lightly on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, warm brown, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
- step 03
Establish the dark areas of the vase using thin washes of brown and green.
- step 04
Begin layering the white flowers, starting with the shadows and mid-tones using grays and creams.
- step 05
Gradually build up the highlights on the flowers with pure white, being mindful of the form and light direction.
- step 06
Add details to the vase, suggesting the transparency and reflections.
- step 07
Refine the edges of the flowers and vase, softening some and sharpening others to create depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the flowers and vase to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ivory black
secondary · sap green · yellow ochre
Achieve the various shades of white by mixing titanium white with small amounts of ivory black, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. Create the dark background by mixing burnt umber with ivory black and a touch of sap green.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the white flowers, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the white petals.
- →Ignoring the transparency of the glass vase and painting it as a solid object.
- →Creating too much contrast too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·#4 round brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a smooth canvas to allow for easier blending and glazing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish the dark background more quickly.
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