plate no. 3508

Cobbs Barns and Distant Houses

Edward Hopper, 1930

oilNew Realismlandscapebarnshouseslandscapefieldshillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into geometric shapes and practice color mixing to achieve specific moods and atmospheric effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: barns, houses, hills, and road, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the buildings.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: sky, fields, and the main colors of the barns and houses.
step 04
Begin refining the colors, adding variations and shadows to create depth and form.
step 05
Add details to the barns and houses, such as windows, doors, and roof lines.
step 06
Work on the texture of the fields and hills, using broken brushstrokes to suggest grass and vegetation.
step 07
Pay attention to the light and shadow, adjusting the values to create a sense of volume and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of green and yellow for the fields. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark shadows on the barns. Mix white with the primary colors to create lighter tints for the sky and highlights.

techniques