plate no. 2491
O'Malley Home (Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland)
Robert Henri, 1913
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in nature.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: mountain, fields, and houses.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and white, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the dark mass of the mountain using dark green and brown.
- step 04
Apply broad strokes of green for the fields, varying the shades.
- step 05
Add touches of yellow and brown to the fields for highlights and texture.
- step 06
Paint the houses with simplified shapes and colors, focusing on the roof details.
- step 07
Refine the foreground with more detailed brushstrokes and color variations.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt umber · payne's gray
Mix greens by blending viridian green with yellow ochre and white. Use burnt umber and payne's gray to create the dark mountain color. Vary the greens by adding small amounts of red or blue.
techniques
- ·impasto
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the canvas.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Not varying the greens enough to create depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
- ·mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a medium to enhance the flow of the paint.
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