plate no. 1760

Baptism in Kansas

John Steuart Curry, 1928

oil, canvasRegionalismgenre paintingbaptismfiguresrural scenebarnwindmillsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a crowd and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth in a landscape. Students will also practice mixing realistic skin tones and rendering fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the main elements (barn, figures, windmill).
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall perspective of the scene.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of color for the sky, fields, and buildings.
step 04
Begin to define the figures, focusing on their general shapes and positions.
step 05
Add details to the barn, windmill, and other background elements.
step 06
Refine the figures, adding details to their clothing and faces.
step 07
Work on the water in the baptismal tub, capturing the reflections and movement.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·blending
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and landscape.
→Making the figures too stiff or unrealistic.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cerulean blue, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ivory black)
·selection of brushes (round and flat, various sizes)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife