plate no. 2185

Haystacks (End of Summer)

oilImpressionismlandscapehaystacksfieldtreesskymountainsshadows

some experience helpful

Students will develop skills in color temperature relationships and atmospheric perspective while learning to capture changing light effects through broken color technique and visible brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Start with a light pencil sketch to place the two haystacks and horizon line
step 02
Block in the sky using horizontal strokes with blues, whites, and warm grays
step 03
Paint the distant mountains and trees with cooler, muted colors to show atmospheric perspective
step 04
Establish the main haystack forms using warm golden browns and ochres
step 05
Add the field areas with varied greens, yellows, and earth tones using broken color technique
step 06
Paint the cast shadows with cooler purples and blues, keeping edges soft
step 07
Build up texture on the haystacks with directional brushstrokes following their form
step 08
Add final highlights and color variations to capture the specific lighting conditions

color palette

primary · cadmium yellow light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · cerulean blue · viridian green

Mix warm golds by combining yellows with small amounts of burnt sienna; create atmospheric grays by mixing complementary colors rather than using black

techniques