plate no. 9254

Winter Still Life with Candle

Mary Fedden, 1950

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)flower paintingflowerscandlestill lifenightmoonvillage

some experience helpful

This painting offers a chance to practice layering techniques and creating a sense of depth using value and color. Recreating the flowers will improve your ability to observe and simplify complex forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the flowers, candle, and village scene.
step 02
Block in the background with dark blues and blacks, suggesting the night sky.
step 03
Establish the main light source (moon) and its effect on the scene.
step 04
Begin layering the flowers, starting with the darker values and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Paint the candle and its flame, paying attention to the warm glow.
step 06
Add details to the village scene, keeping it simple and slightly blurred.
step 07
Refine the details of the flowers and leaves, adding subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · rose madder

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue, and create muted tones by adding burnt umber. Achieve the pinks by mixing white and alizarin crimson.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the flowers, losing the overall impression.
→Making the village scene too sharp and distracting.
→Not establishing a clear light source, resulting in a flat image.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, leading to a harsh palette.