plate no. 9714
French peasant woman with a bag on her back
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures within a landscape and using a limited palette to create a harmonious scene. It also provides practice in capturing light and shadow to define form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, building, and gate.
- step 02
Establish the background sky with a thin wash of light blue and white.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the building and figure with diluted washes of brown and ochre.
- step 04
Develop the form of the figure, adding details to the clothing and face.
- step 05
Add details to the building and gate, using darker tones to create shadows and depth.
- step 06
Paint the foliage around the building and gate, using a variety of greens and browns.
- step 07
Refine the details of the landscape, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the figure and background.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green
Mix burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the various browns and earth tones. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix sap green with burnt umber for muted greens.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color blending
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and losing the transparency of the washes.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·linseed oil
- ·round brushes size 2-6
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
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