plate no. 4634
Field
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex forms into expressive brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing a mood with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of color: sky, distant hills, field, and figure.
- step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the values within each area.
- step 04
Add details to the figure, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the field with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the edges and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Soften some areas to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the individual blades of grass in the foreground.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Mix various shades of yellow ochre and burnt umber with white to achieve the different tones in the field. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the shadows and create atmospheric perspective.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·limited palette
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
- →Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
- →Not establishing a clear light source.
- →Failing to simplify the forms and getting bogged down in details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (flats and rounds)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
A slightly textured canvas will help to create the broken brushstroke effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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