plate no. 9732
Digging at the vegetable garden
Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1920
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and understanding color temperature to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing movement and gesture with loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
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 and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, field, trees, and figures, using thin washes.
- step 03
Start building up the values and colors in the figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Develop the background details, such as the trees and buildings, using loose brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the details in the figures' clothing and faces, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Add texture to the field and trees using dry brush techniques.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · burnt sienna
Mix various shades of brown and green for the landscape. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix red and white for the pinkish tones in the figures' clothing.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brush
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can distract from the figures.
- →Not paying attention to the color temperature, which can flatten the image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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