plate no. 8007

A Social History of the State of Missouri (detail) - Beer Making

Thomas Hart Benton, 1936

oilRegionalismgenre paintingfiguresindustrymachinesbarrelsbuildingscityscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, perspective, and creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering metallic and wooden textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures and machinery.
step 02
Block in the major shapes and forms with simplified color masses, focusing on the large areas of color.
step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows and highlights on the figures and objects.
step 04
Develop the details of the figures, paying attention to anatomy and facial expressions.
step 05
Refine the details of the machinery and architectural elements, focusing on accurate perspective.
step 06
Add texture to the surfaces of the objects, such as the wood grain on the barrels and the metallic sheen on the machinery.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna · payne's gray

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue to create dark shadows and grays. Mix raw sienna with white for highlights on wooden surfaces.

techniques