plate no. 9468

Homestead in the hills

woodRealismlandscapebuildinghillsfigureskylandscapedog

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice loose brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene with simplified forms. Students can learn to create depth using atmospheric perspective and varying color temperatures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the building, the hill, the figure, and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant mountains.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the building, using a mix of browns, grays, and whites.
step 04
Add the darker tones to define the shadows and create form in the building and the hill.
step 05
Paint the figure and the dog with quick, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the building, adding texture to the stone walls.
step 07
Add highlights to the sunlit areas to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue to create cool grays and atmospheric perspective in the sky and distant mountains.

techniques