plate no. 4612
Peasant with wheelbarrow
Ivan Generalić, 1944
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and practice layering colors to create depth and atmosphere. It also provides an opportunity to explore perspective in a simplified, naive style.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the houses, trees, and figure, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
- step 03
Block in the main color areas: sky, ground, houses, and trees, using thinned paint.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the houses, such as windows, doors, and roof lines.
- step 05
Develop the trees, focusing on their branching structure and adding highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the figure and wheelbarrow, paying attention to proportions and details.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · payne's gray · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix raw umber and white for the houses and ground. Use yellow ochre and raw umber for the trees. Payne's gray and white create the sky. Burnt sienna and raw umber can be mixed for the darker areas of the houses and trees.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·simplified perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Ignoring the overall tonal harmony.
- →Incorrect proportions of the figures and buildings
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Thin the oil paints with linseed oil for easier blending and layering.
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