plate no. 1572
Lunchtime Rest
William H. Johnson, 1941
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive composition. It will also develop skills in creating a sense of depth through layering and color variation.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figures, the hill, the buildings, and the trees.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the fields, the hill, and the figures' clothing.
- step 03
Add details to the figures, such as faces, hands, and the folds in their clothing.
- step 04
Paint the buildings and mining equipment, paying attention to their geometric shapes.
- step 05
Add the vertical stripes to the fields, alternating between light and dark shades of green and brown.
- step 06
Define the edges of the shapes with darker outlines to create a bold, graphic effect.
- step 07
Add final details, such as the tracks and the small objects on the ground.
- step 08
Review and adjust colors and shapes as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · blue · brown · white · yellow
secondary · red · green · purple
Mix browns by combining red, yellow, and blue. Vary the shades of green by adding yellow or blue to a base green. Create purple by mixing red and blue.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·outlining
- ·layering
- ·simplification
- ·color blocking
common pitfalls
- →overcomplicating the shapes
- →using too many colors
- →not defining the edges clearly
- →making the composition too symmetrical
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·canvas or heavy paper
- ·assorted brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·masking tape
Use a limited palette of primary colors and white to encourage color mixing. Consider using a larger brush for the initial color blocking and smaller brushes for details.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
