plate no. 5456

Yerevan flowers

Martiros Sarian, 1957

oil, canvasRealismstill lifeflowersstill lifevasesfruittablecloth

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing the textures of various objects. It also provides practice in creating a complex composition with multiple focal points.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the vases, flowers, and fruit, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the background, tablecloth, and the general color masses of the flowers and fruit.
step 03
Start layering colors within each area, focusing on capturing the local color and subtle variations in hue and value.
step 04
Add details to the flowers, such as individual petals and stems, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 05
Refine the shapes and colors of the vases and fruit, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 06
Add texture to the tablecloth using dry brush techniques or subtle color variations.
step 07
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve the vibrant floral colors by mixing primary colors with white for lighter tints. Use burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create the darker greens and browns for the vases.

techniques

·color layering
·dry brush
·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Focusing too much on individual details before establishing the overall color harmony.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating depth and form.
→Creating overly sharp edges, which can make the painting look flat.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, titanium white, viridian green, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags