plate no. 1631

Farmyard and Dovecote, Nettlestead

Frederick George Cotman, 1912

oilRomanticismlandscapefarmyardbuildingstreesskyfencesmoke

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as capturing the texture of foliage and weathered buildings using varied brushstrokes.

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 placement of the buildings, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and blue tones, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and buildings using dark greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering lighter greens and browns in the foreground to create the field.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as the thatched roofs and windows, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the fence with thin lines of brown and gray, suggesting the weathered wood.
step 07
Create the smoke effect with light blues and grays, using loose, gestural strokes.
step 08
Add final details, such as the birds in the sky and highlights on the foliage.

color palette

primary · sap green · raw umber · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix greens by combining sap green with raw umber and yellow ochre. Achieve the sky tones by mixing cerulean blue with white and a touch of gray. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the buildings and fence.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the foreground, losing the sense of depth.
→Making the colors too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.
→Not blending the sky colors sufficiently, creating harsh transitions.
→Failing to capture the texture of the thatched roofs and weathered wood.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or acrylic medium
·odorless mineral spirits or water

optional

·easel
·painting medium
·varnish

Use a medium-textured canvas to help capture the texture of the original painting. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein