plate no. 1578
La Era (The Threshing Floor) 1904 (oil on canvas)
Diego Rivera, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountain, buildings, and figures.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and mountain.
- step 03
Establish the ground plane with a base layer of warm yellows and oranges.
- step 04
Add details to the buildings, including the roof and wall textures.
- step 05
Paint the figures and horses, paying attention to their proportions and anatomy.
- step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
- step 07
Add final touches to the sky and mountain, blending colors to create atmospheric perspective.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color harmony.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue
secondary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red
Achieve the ground color by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. The mountain is a mix of ultramarine blue, white, and a hint of burnt sienna. Use black and white to create the grays for the building.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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