plate no. 2429
Country Road, Madeira
Irma Stern, 1931
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the buildings, road, and tree trunks.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 03
Start building up layers of color, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
- step 04
Mix greens with blues and yellows for the foliage, and oranges and reds for the buildings and road.
- step 05
Add details to the trees and buildings, using darker colors for shadows and lighter colors for highlights.
- step 06
Define the edges of shapes with confident brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the composition by adjusting colors and values as needed.
- step 08
Add final touches and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · sap green
secondary · cadmium red · titanium white · black
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and create variations by adding white or burnt sienna. Achieve the orange hues by mixing red and yellow, adjusting the ratio for different shades.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·impasto
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·color layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
- →Focusing too much on detail and not enough on the overall composition.
- →Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the canvas.
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
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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