plate no. 7727

Hot Summer Afternoon

Charles E. Burchfield, 1919

oilNew Realismlandscapebuildingsskycloudsstreethousestown

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive and atmospheric scene. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in seemingly monochromatic areas.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, horizon line, and cloud placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of gray, leaving areas for the clouds.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the buildings using a mix of red, brown, and black.
step 04
Paint the ground with a mix of yellow, brown, and green, varying the tones to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using darker values.
step 06
Refine the clouds with soft edges and subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of light and shadow.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the building's primary color, adding white to lighten and black to darken. Use yellow ochre and white for the clouds, and a mix of all colors for the ground.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and value, leading to a lack of depth.
→Not simplifying the shapes and getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.