plate no. 9021

For What?

Frederick Varley, 1919

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapefiguresskyfieldcartwar

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in mixing muted, earthy tones and capturing a somber mood.

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 placement of major elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with light grays and whites, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the foreground with dark browns and reds, using loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 04
Add the figures and cart, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 05
Develop the middle ground with muted greens and browns, suggesting distant details.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures and cart, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add final touches to the sky and foreground, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · payne's gray

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., orange and blue, red and green) with white. Use Payne's gray to darken colors without making them too saturated.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.
→Not creating enough depth through atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, payne's gray, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine