plate no. 3112

Midday Barren

Neil Welliver, 1983

oil, canvasContemporary Realismlandscaperocksgrassskycloudstreeslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting depth through size and placement of objects, and in creating texture with brushstrokes. It also provides practice in mixing subtle color variations for natural elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the general placement of the larger rocks.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, adding soft white clouds.
step 03
Establish the base color of the ground with a mix of greens and browns.
step 04
Begin painting the rocks, starting with the larger ones in the foreground, using shades of gray and white.
step 05
Add shadows to the rocks to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Layer in details to the grass and ground, using short brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Paint the distant trees with a dark green, softening the edges.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the rocks and landscape.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · cadmium green · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, raw umber, and a touch of blue. Achieve the greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjusting the ratio for different tones. Use burnt sienna and raw umber to create the reddish-brown tones in the grass.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the rocks, losing the overall impression.
→Making the colors too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.
→Ignoring the subtle value shifts in the rocks and ground.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw umber, cadmium green, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags