plate no. 6701
New Growth
Jamie Wyeth, 1971
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to suggest distance. It also provides practice in depicting organic forms with subtle variations in tone and color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the tree, stump, and background hills, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darkest and lightest areas with thin washes.
- step 03
Begin layering colors on the tree trunk and stump, building up depth and texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 04
Paint the background hills with soft, blended colors, using lighter values to create a sense of distance.
- step 05
Add details to the foliage around the base of the tree and stump, varying the colors and values to create visual interest.
- step 06
Paint the new growth on the stump, paying attention to the shapes and angles of the leaves.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and realistic image.
color palette
primary · sap green · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix greens by combining sap green with yellow ochre or raw umber. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective. Burnt sienna can be used to add warmth to the darker areas.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Not varying the colors and values enough, resulting in a monotonous image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·odorless mineral spirits or water
optional
- ·retarder
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to help create texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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