plate no. 6055

Potato gatherers

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresfieldtreesskyharvestlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in depicting figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, field, and trees.
step 03
Establish the value structure, paying attention to the light and shadow on the figures and the ground.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes of the figures, adding details to their clothing and faces.
step 05
Develop the texture of the field and the trees with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the details of the potatoes and the baskets.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ivory black

Achieve the muted greens by mixing Prussian blue, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective. Mix small amounts of red into browns to add warmth.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima
·implied detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Creating too much contrast and losing the subtle gradations of value.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure before adding details.
→Making the colors too saturated and losing the muted, earthy tones of the painting.