plate no. 9771
Yellow Flowers
Roman Selsky, 1981
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, flowers, and trees, focusing on composition.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and pinks, using loose brushstrokes.
- step 03
Establish the dark greens and blues of the trees and foliage in the background.
- step 04
Paint the basic colors of the buildings, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add the flower stalks with green, varying the thickness and direction of the strokes.
- step 06
Dot the yellow flowers along the stalks, using a small brush and varying the size and placement.
- step 07
Add details to the fence and other foreground elements.
- step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adding highlights and shadows as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow · blue · green · red
secondary · pink · orange · brown
Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and vary the shades by adding small amounts of brown or red. Achieve the pinks and oranges by mixing red with white or yellow, respectively.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the colors too uniform and not varying the shades and tones.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point.
- →Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Oil paints (yellow, blue, green, red, white, brown)
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Palette
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
optional
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Varnish
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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