plate no. 5272

Farm at Rebais

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebuildingslandscapetreesskyfieldfarm

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and horizon line with a light pencil.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the sky, fields, and major masses of the buildings and trees with thin washes of color.
step 03
Develop the sky with soft, blended strokes, adding subtle variations in tone and color.
step 04
Build up the foliage of the trees using broken brushstrokes and varying shades of green and brown.
step 05
Define the forms of the buildings with thicker paint and more precise brushwork, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as grasses and shadows, to create depth and interest.
step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · viridian green

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or cadmium yellow light. Use raw umber and burnt sienna to create earth tones. Add titanium white to lighten colors and create subtle variations in value.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Neglecting the importance of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, viridian green, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·selection of round and flat brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·rags