plate no. 8708
Farm View
Grant Wood, 1932
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into geometric shapes and understanding atmospheric perspective through subtle color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the oval composition and basic shapes of the barn, house, and fields.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the winding road.
- step 03
Block in the large areas of color: sky, fields, and buildings.
- step 04
Add details to the barn and house, such as windows and roof lines.
- step 05
Paint the haystacks, paying attention to their shadows and highlights.
- step 06
Refine the road and add subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 07
Add the trees and other details in the background.
- step 08
Adjust values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · payne's gray
Mix burnt sienna and raw umber with white for the fields. Use cadmium red with a touch of burnt sienna for the barn. Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the haystacks.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·geometric simplification
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →overcomplicating the scene with too much detail
- →using colors that are too bright or saturated
- →failing to create a sense of depth
- →not paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (oval if possible, otherwise rectangular)
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·flat brush (#4)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
A toned canvas (light brown or gray) can be helpful for establishing the overall color scheme.
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