plate no. 7160
At the Gate
Grant Wood, 1926
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the door, walls, and ground, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Begin building up the texture of the stone walls and ground with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 04
Mix variations of browns and ochres to create the different tones in the stonework.
- step 05
Add details to the door and its frame, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Add final details such as the door handle and the drain in the foreground.
- step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and white. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or cadmium red to warm up the colors.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·value study
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details
- →Ignoring the overall value structure
- →Using too much detail in the shadows
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the broken color effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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