plate no. 9601
After a Push
C. R. W. Nevinson, 1917
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create depth using value and color temperature. It also encourages expressive brushwork to convey texture and emotion.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic horizon line and the main shapes of the muddy ground.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a gradient from dark gray to lighter gray near the horizon.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of mud with dark greens and browns.
- step 04
Add highlights to the mud puddles using a lighter, desaturated beige.
- step 05
Define the shapes of the mud mounds with darker shadows and textured brushstrokes.
- step 06
Paint the distant horizon line with silhouettes of trees and barbed wire.
- step 07
Add subtle details like smoke or haze in the background.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green
Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or raw umber to warm the grays. Use sap green and raw umber to create the dark greens for the mud.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value studies
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the sky.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·rags
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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