plate no. 0727

La Ferme de la Bendelire

Jacques Villon, 1905

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapehouselandscapetreesfigurefoliagerural

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating texture with dry brush techniques. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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 house, foliage, and figure.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the entire paper.
step 03
Paint the sky with a very diluted blue wash, allowing it to blend with the underlying wash.
step 04
Add the base colors for the house roof (yellow ochre, burnt sienna) and walls (white with a touch of grey).
step 05
Layer greens and browns to create the foliage, using a dry brush technique for texture.
step 06
Paint the figure with muted browns and greys.
step 07
Add details to the house, such as window shapes and roof texture.
step 08
Refine the values and add final details to the foliage and ground.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · raw umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve muted tones by adding a touch of raw umber to the primary colors.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·layering washes
·color mixing
·simplifying shapes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Not allowing washes to dry completely before layering.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, sap green, raw umber)
·Round watercolor brushes (various sizes)
·Flat watercolor brush
·Water container
·Palette
·Pencil
·Eraser