plate no. 9852

Danish Roadside

William H. Johnson, 1930

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapehousestreesroadskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It also encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the houses, road, and trees.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, houses, road, trees, and foliage.
step 03
Start adding darker values to define shadows and create depth, especially in the trees and foliage.
step 04
Mix and apply lighter values to suggest highlights and create contrast.
step 05
Use short, expressive brushstrokes to build up texture and detail in the foliage and road.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the houses and add details like windows and roof lines.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values throughout the painting to create a cohesive and harmonious effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to emphasize the focal points and create visual interest.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · sap green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · ivory black

Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve the orange-brown tones of the road by mixing burnt sienna with yellow ochre and a touch of cadmium orange. Create the sky by blending ultramarine blue with white and a hint of black for the darker areas.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the importance of color temperature in creating depth.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, sap green, ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium orange, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits

optional

·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
·varnish

Use good quality oil paints for better color saturation and longevity. Experiment with different brush sizes and types to achieve a variety of textures.

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