plate no. 6036
White Vase with Flowers
Odilon Redon, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and creating soft, diffused edges. It also provides practice in capturing the delicate nature of floral arrangements.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vase and the overall arrangement of the flowers.
- step 02
Establish the background colors with soft, blended pastel strokes, creating a gradient effect.
- step 03
Begin layering in the general colors of the flowers, focusing on large shapes and masses.
- step 04
Gradually add details to the flowers, using smaller pastel strokes to define petals and centers.
- step 05
Work on the vase, adding subtle shadows and highlights to create a sense of form.
- step 06
Refine the details of the flowers, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Blend and soften edges as needed to achieve a dreamy, ethereal effect.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as necessary to achieve the desired result.
color palette
primary · red · yellow · blue · white
secondary · orange · purple · green · brown
Achieve the soft, muted tones by layering and blending pastels. Mix complementary colors to create grays and browns for shadows.
techniques
- ·pastel blending
- ·layering
- ·soft edges
- ·color mixing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the pastel and losing the soft, diffused effect.
- →Using too much pressure and creating harsh lines.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not blending colors sufficiently.
materials
surface · Pastel paper (toned)
required
- ·Pastel set (soft pastels)
- ·Pastel paper (toned)
- ·Blending stumps
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Drawing board
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Workable fixative
- ·Easel
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly textured surface to grip the pastel. A toned paper will help establish the overall color harmony.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
