plate no. 0754

Middlebrook Farm

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapelandscapefarmtreesfieldhousesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall impression of a scene rather than focusing on minute details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition: horizon line, location of the house, and major landforms.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and grays.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of trees in the background, using a mix of dark greens and browns.
step 04
Begin layering in the midground fields, varying the greens and browns to create depth.
step 05
Add the house with simplified shapes and light values.
step 06
Work on the foreground, using broken brushstrokes to suggest grasses and foliage.
step 07
Add details like the fence posts and tree branches, keeping them loose and impressionistic.
step 08
Refine the overall color harmony and value relationships.

color palette

primary · viridian green · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix greens by combining viridian green with yellow ochre or raw umber. Achieve muted tones by mixing complementary colors.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·alla prima
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Creating overly saturated colors
→Losing the overall impression by focusing on small elements
→Not establishing a clear value structure

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (viridian green, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits