plate no. 9476

Flax harvesting

Emile Claus, 1904

oilLuminismgenre paintingfieldfiguresharvesttreesskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and broken color techniques to create a sense of light and depth. Students will also learn to depict figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light, hazy wash of blues and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the field with broad strokes of green, yellow, and brown.
step 04
Begin adding details to the figures, paying attention to their poses and clothing.
step 05
Use broken color techniques to create texture and light in the field, layering different colors and values.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees and other background elements, using atmospheric perspective to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the figures and field to create a sense of form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired mood and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and create muted tones by adding a touch of burnt umber. Use white to lighten colors and create a hazy atmosphere.

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of light and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not blending them properly.
→Ignoring the principles of atmospheric perspective and creating a flat, unrealistic landscape.
→Not paying attention to the proportions and poses of the figures.
→Getting bogged down in details too early in the process.