plate no. 8620

Farm at La Petite Mare

Francis Picabia, 1907

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapefarmtreesbuildinglandscapeskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create light and shadow. It also provides practice in layering paint to build texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the barn, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the barn, using yellows and oranges.
step 04
Paint the large tree on the left, focusing on the shapes of the leaves and branches with greens and blues.
step 05
Add details to the barn, such as the roof, windows, and shadows.
step 06
Develop the foreground with greens, browns, and yellows, suggesting grass and foliage.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · sap green · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · cadmium yellow light

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and create variations in the barn's color by adding small amounts of red, brown, or white to the yellow ochre.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the impressionistic effect.
→Neglecting the importance of light and shadow in creating depth.
→Failing to capture the texture of the foliage and building.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, cerulean blue, sap green, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium yellow light)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags