plate no. 0780
Overmantel Decoration
Grant Wood, 1930
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth using color and value, and how to simplify complex shapes into more manageable forms. It also provides practice in creating a stylized, slightly abstracted landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and landscape, paying attention to the overall composition.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the sky and ground.
- step 03
Add the details of the house, such as windows and shutters.
- step 04
Begin layering the colors in the trees, creating the rounded forms.
- step 05
Add the figures and other small details.
- step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth.
- step 07
Add the flowers in the foreground.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of brown and green by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, and sap green. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix red and white for the flowers.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall simplicity.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Not paying attention to the values and creating a flat image.
- →Getting the perspective of the house wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oils)
- ·mineral spirits (if using oils)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a smooth surface to achieve the desired effect. Acrylics are easier for beginners, but oils will give a richer color.
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