plate no. 4116
On the field
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose brushwork and capturing atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying forms and suggesting detail rather than rendering it precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of the figure and trees.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of white and a touch of blue, leaving some areas bare for texture.
- step 03
Establish the basic tones of the field using a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and green.
- step 04
Add darker values to the foreground to create depth and contrast.
- step 05
Paint the trees with loose, gestural brushstrokes, using a mix of browns and greens.
- step 06
Add the figure with simple shapes and a touch of red for the skirt.
- step 07
Refine the details with small brushstrokes, focusing on the highlights and shadows.
- step 08
Add small details like the stalks of grass and the path.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white · sap green
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red
Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the field. Use white to lighten the colors and create atmospheric perspective. Mix blue and white for the sky.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
- →Using too much paint and muddying the colors.
- →Neglecting the atmospheric perspective and making the background too sharp.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for loose brushstrokes. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt sienna before starting.
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