plate no. 3151

Houses in Pasture

pastel, pencil, paperTonalismlandscapelandscapehousespasturefieldskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle color variations. It also provides practice in rendering textures of fields and foliage with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of the houses and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted yellow and gray, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the field with broad strokes of brown, ochre, and green.
step 04
Add darker values to the trees and the shadows under the houses to create depth.
step 05
Begin adding details to the field, using broken brushstrokes to represent the grass and foliage.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations to the field, using greens, yellows, and browns to create texture.
step 07
Add the cows with simple shapes and highlights to suggest form.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.