plate no. 6170
Farm Sun
Piet Mondrian, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing the essence of a scene with minimal detail. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in natural light.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the barn and surrounding landscape.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to blend softly.
- step 03
Begin layering washes of color for the barn roof, using browns and creams.
- step 04
Add darker washes to define shadows and details on the barn structure.
- step 05
Paint the foliage with loose, expressive strokes of green and blue.
- step 06
Create the ground with washes of yellow, green, and brown, blending them together.
- step 07
Add final details like the tree trunk and any small accents.
- step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and assess for any needed adjustments.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · alizarin crimson
Mix browns by combining burnt sienna and raw umber. Achieve muted greens by mixing sap green with a touch of burnt sienna. Create the sky by diluting cerulean blue with plenty of water.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·layering washes
- ·color mixing
- ·sketching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting with too much detail.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Making the initial sketch too dark or heavy.
- →Not allowing washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paper 140lb
- ·Watercolor paints (tubes or pans)
- ·Round watercolor brushes (sizes 4, 8, 12)
- ·Palette for mixing paints
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
optional
- ·Masking tape
- ·Palette knife
- ·Spray bottle
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying effects.
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