plate no. 2172
Grain Elevators (Evans)
Charles E. Burchfield, 1933
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing the essence of a scene with minimal detail. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in seemingly monochromatic subjects.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the grain elevators and surrounding structures.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey/blue to the sky area.
- step 03
Begin layering washes of grey, brown, and blue to define the forms of the buildings, working from light to dark.
- step 04
Use a slightly drier brush to create texture and suggest the weathered surfaces of the buildings.
- step 05
Add darker accents and details to define edges and create depth.
- step 06
Paint the ground area with loose washes of brown and green, suggesting vegetation and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches to enhance the overall impression.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · grey · brown · blue
secondary · ochre · green · burnt sienna
Achieve the various grey tones by mixing black or burnt umber with white or a touch of blue. Use ochre and burnt sienna for the rust colors.
techniques
- ·wet-on-dry
- ·dry brush
- ·layering washes
- ·limited palette
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brush
- ·Water container
- ·Palette
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve a variety of textures.
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