plate no. 3643
Downloading The Harvest
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of yellow and blue, blending them softly.
- step 03
Establish the basic values of the field and buildings with diluted browns and ochres.
- step 04
Add the larger masses of hay, using thicker paint and directional brushstrokes.
- step 05
Paint the animals and figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
- step 06
Develop the details in the buildings and haystacks, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the foreground textures with dry brushing and scumbling.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · raw sienna
Achieve the various earth tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white in different proportions. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the yellows and browns for shadows and distant areas.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·simplified form rendering
- ·directional brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective and making distant objects too sharp.
- →Failing to simplify the forms of the figures and animals.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 10)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·mineral spirits or water (depending on medium)
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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