plate no. 2636

Farmers

Alberto Sughi, 1951

oilRealismgenre paintingfigureslandscapetreesclothingfieldsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure painting, particularly rendering clothing and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also offers practice in capturing natural light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes of the figures and the landscape elements, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, ground, and figures using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the values on the figures, focusing on the light and shadow patterns on their clothing.
step 04
Add details to the faces and hands, using small brushstrokes to define the features.
step 05
Refine the background landscape, adding details to the trees and the distant field.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre to warm up the browns and add hints of green to the landscape.

techniques