plate no. 1316
Farmhouses and peasant
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle variations in light and shadow on architectural forms. It also provides practice in depicting figures within a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, figure, and horizon line using light pencil strokes.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue paint.
- step 03
Establish the main values on the buildings using a mix of browns, yellows, and grays.
- step 04
Add the darker shadows and details to the architecture, paying attention to the light source.
- step 05
Paint the landscape, blending the greens and browns to create a sense of depth.
- step 06
Add the figure, focusing on capturing the pose and proportions.
- step 07
Paint the laundry line, using thin washes of white and light colors.
- step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · cerulean blue
secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · sap green
Mix raw umber and yellow ochre for the building's base color, adding white for highlights and burnt sienna for shadows. Use cerulean blue with white for the sky, and mix greens with yellow ochre and a touch of blue for the vegetation.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value studies
- ·blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating overly saturated colors that detract from the muted palette.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value that create depth.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for some visible brushstrokes. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before starting.
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