plate no. 3758
Milkweed
Charles E. Burchfield, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into stylized shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive composition. It also encourages practice in creating patterns and textures with brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main elements: the birds, branches, and overall composition.
- step 02
Block in the background with a light purple wash, including the wavy texture.
- step 03
Paint the dark brown branches and seed pods, varying the thickness of the lines.
- step 04
Add the white milkweed flowers, paying attention to their radial arrangement.
- step 05
Paint the birds with dark brown and black stripes, adding small red details.
- step 06
Add the green seed pods and leaves.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights.
color palette
primary · light purple · dark brown · white
secondary · black · green · red
The light purple can be achieved by mixing white with a touch of purple or blue. Vary the brown by adding small amounts of black or red.
techniques
- ·flat color application
- ·stylized representation
- ·pattern creation
- ·limited palette
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the shapes
- →Using too many colors
- →Losing the overall composition
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·acrylic paints
- ·watercolor paper
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·masking tape
Using a heavier weight paper will prevent buckling when applying washes. Acrylics can be thinned with water to achieve a watercolor-like effect.
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