plate no. 6416

Delta Farms

Wayne Thiebaud, 1996

oilNew Realismlandscapefarmlandfieldslandscapeaerial viewwatertrees

some experience helpful

This painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and in creating texture through varied brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into abstract shapes and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the major shapes and land divisions, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Establish the background color of the 'river' or negative space with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for each field, using simplified versions of the local color.
step 04
Begin layering colors within each field to create depth and variation, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details like rows of crops, trees, and buildings, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Pay attention to the edges of each field, softening some and defining others to create visual interest.
step 07
Introduce subtle highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the landscape.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and adjust colors as needed to achieve a harmonious balance.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjusting the ratio for warmer or cooler tones. Create the earth tones by mixing burnt sienna with ultramarine blue and white. Use white to lighten and desaturate colors for a muted effect.

techniques