plate no. 0391
Cotton field
Jacques Sterenberg, 2019
some experience helpful
This painting helps students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve a harmonious yet vibrant palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, hills, trees, and field divisions.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, adding darker blues for clouds.
- step 03
Paint the distant hills with muted greens and blues, simplifying their shapes.
- step 04
Establish the tree shapes with dark browns and greens, leaving space for highlights.
- step 05
Begin filling in the field with a base layer of light blue.
- step 06
Add individual strokes of yellow, green, brown, and white to represent the cotton plants, varying the direction and density of the strokes.
- step 07
Paint the foreground rows with darker blues and greens, adding small highlights to suggest plants.
- step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed to create a cohesive and expressive landscape.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · sap green
Mix various shades of blue by adding white or burnt umber to ultramarine. Create greens by mixing yellow ochre and sap green. Use burnt umber to darken colors and create shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·simplified shapes
- ·expressive brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the field and losing the sense of movement.
- →Making the colors too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Failing to simplify the shapes of the hills and trees.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for this project. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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