plate no. 5282
Fog, Hawke's Bay
Rita Angus, 1969
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into geometric shapes and practice color mixing to achieve subtle tonal variations in the sky and road.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: road, buildings, hills, and sky.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, blending towards white near the horizon.
- step 03
Paint the distant hills and clouds, using soft, blended strokes.
- step 04
Establish the base colors for the road, fields, and buildings.
- step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and doors.
- step 06
Paint the trees using simplified shapes and varying shades of green.
- step 07
Add the telephone poles and the truck with cattle.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth.
color palette
primary · sky blue · grey · green · red
secondary · white · yellow · brown · orange
Mix various shades of green by combining blue, yellow, and a touch of brown. Achieve the road's grey by mixing black and white, adding a touch of blue for a cooler tone.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·blending
- ·geometric simplification
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Ignoring the atmospheric perspective.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium retarder
- ·easel
Acrylic paints are recommended for their quick drying time and ease of use for beginners. Consider using a medium retarder to extend the drying time for easier blending.
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