plate no. 9530

Farmland

Jesús Meneses del Barco, 1970

gouacheContemporary Realismlandscapelandscapefarmlandhillsfiguresanimalssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using expressive brushstrokes to define form and texture. It also provides practice 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 composition, focusing on the horizon line and major landforms.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, muted color.
step 03
Establish the main value areas of the landscape with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the forms of the hills and fields.
step 05
Use thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes to define the foreground elements.
step 06
Add details such as the figures and animals.
step 07
Refine the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · purple

Mix raw umber and white for the lighter areas of the hills. Add yellow ochre to warm the browns. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create darker shadows and earthy tones. Mix purple with white to create the sky.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·layering
·scumbling
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
→Failing to simplify the complex details of the landscape.
→Not paying attention to atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear too sharp.