plate no. 7038

Haystacks

Gustave de Smet, 1914

oilImpressionismlandscapehaystacksfieldskycloudslandscapehouse

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to capture the light and texture of a rural landscape. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, haystacks, house, and distant trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, adding white for clouds and variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the base colors of the field, using yellows, ochres, and browns, varying the hues to suggest depth.
step 04
Paint the haystacks with thick, textured strokes of yellow, white, and touches of pink and purple to capture the light and shadow.
step 05
Add the distant trees and house, using muted greens and browns to create a sense of distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the haystacks, adding individual strokes to suggest the texture of the hay.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a harmonious and unified image.
step 08
Add final details like the birds in the sky and subtle variations in the field.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light

Mix various shades of yellow and brown for the field and haystacks, using white to lighten and blue to cool the colors. Create atmospheric perspective by muting colors with grey as they recede into the distance.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the freshness and spontaneity of the impressionistic style.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a painting that looks artificial.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance in the landscape.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to capture the texture of the haystacks and field.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, cerulean blue, burnt umber, raw sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·painting apron

Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for better paint adhesion and texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing and create a more harmonious painting.

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