plate no. 0937

Grain Elevators

Charles E. Burchfield, 1938

oilNew Realismcityscapebuildingsgrain elevatorswaterskyindustriallandscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, atmospheric perspective, and creating a sense of depth using value and color. It also provides practice in rendering complex architectural forms and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and water.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the values and atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Begin refining the shapes of the buildings, adding details and textures.
step 05
Develop the sky and water, paying attention to the reflections and atmospheric effects.
step 06
Add details to the foreground elements, such as the vegetation and small buildings.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired mood and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of the secondary colors. Use white to lighten the values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques