plate no. 0482

Gardener

oil, woodPost-Impressionismgenre paintingfigurefieldtreeshatgardenerlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice broken color techniques and learn how to suggest form with loose brushstrokes. It also provides a good exercise in simplifying a subject to its essential shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the figure, the horizon line, and the tree trunk.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: dark green for the background trees, yellow-green for the field, and a muted blue-gray for the figure.
step 03
Begin adding broken color within each area, using short, distinct brushstrokes. Vary the colors slightly within each area to create visual interest.
step 04
Pay attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to suggest form and texture. For example, use vertical strokes for the tree trunk and horizontal strokes for the field.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the figure to give it dimension. Use small touches of orange and pink for the skin tones.
step 06
Refine the details of the hat and the hands, but keep the overall effect loose and impressionistic.
step 07
Add the final touches of dark green to the foreground to create depth.
step 08
Step back and assess the painting, making any necessary adjustments to the colors and values.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · Prussian blue · sap green

secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and Prussian blue. Mute colors by adding a touch of complementary color (e.g., a little red to green). Create the figure's color by mixing Prussian blue and burnt sienna with white.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color mixing
·value study

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Blending the colors too much, which will flatten the image.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Making the figure too detailed and realistic.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, Prussian blue, sap green, burnt sienna, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·rags