plate no. 7045

Yellow Tulips

Thomas Dewing, 1908

oilRealismgenre paintingfigurechairtableflowersvaseinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting subtle light and shadow, and creating a sense of atmosphere through soft blending and muted colors. It also offers practice in rendering realistic textures and forms with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, chair, table, and vase.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color, paying attention to the light source.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the background, figure, and objects, using a limited palette.
step 04
Develop the form of the figure and chair, adding details and refining the shapes.
step 05
Paint the table and vase, focusing on the subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Add the flowers, using small brushstrokes to capture their delicate form.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Blend and soften edges to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use thin washes of color to create depth and atmosphere.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·soft blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Neglecting the importance of soft edges and subtle blending.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, sap green, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags