plate no. 6298
Die Ährenleserinnen
Eugène Burnand, 1900
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in landscape painting, figure placement within a landscape, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering textures like hay and fields using broken color techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, horizon line, and major landscape elements.
- step 02
Establish the sky with light blues and grays, blending softly.
- step 03
Block in the distant hills with muted greens and browns, using lighter values for areas further away.
- step 04
Paint the field with a base of yellow ochre and burnt sienna, then add variations with greens, oranges, and browns.
- step 05
Define the figures with simple shapes and values, paying attention to the folds in their clothing.
- step 06
Add details to the hay wagon and the figures, using smaller brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the foreground with more detailed brushwork, adding highlights and shadows to the grass.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the figures and hay.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · raw umber · sap green · cadmium orange
Mix muted greens for the hills by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the golden field color by layering yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and small amounts of cadmium orange.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
- ·landscape painting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the background, losing the sense of distance.
- →Making the figures too stiff or unnatural.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated, disrupting the overall harmony.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the field, resulting in a flat, uninteresting surface.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #4)
- ·flat brushes (#6, #8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
A medium-textured canvas will work well for this painting. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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