plate no. 2616

An Abandoned Farm

Louis Valtat, 1912

oil, canvasFauvismlandscapebuildingtreesskycloudslandscapepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides experience in mixing a limited palette to achieve harmonious color relationships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, the trees, the road, and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, creating the cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the building using ochre, burnt sienna, and white, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the trees using various shades of green, layering darker and lighter tones to create depth and volume.
step 05
Define the road with a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, varying the color to suggest perspective.
step 06
Add details to the building, such as the roof tiles and the arched doorway, using darker tones to create contrast.
step 07
Refine the shapes of the trees and clouds, adding highlights and shadows to enhance their form.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to balance the composition and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow

Mix greens by blending ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow. Achieve variations in earth tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white in different proportions. Use white to lighten and soften colors.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color mixing
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the freshness and spontaneity of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing on the palette.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and uninteresting composition.
→Neglecting the importance of color temperature, leading to disharmony in the color palette.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt sienna, viridian green, cadmium yellow)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags or paper towels