plate no. 9941

Pruning the Vines

Josef Herman, 1952

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfigurefieldvineslandscapetreesfarmer

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex forms and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and movement. It also provides practice in mixing earth tones and creating a sense of depth with limited color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, vines, and background, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, field, figure's clothing, and ground.
step 03
Begin to define the figure's form with darker and lighter values, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Add details to the vines, using short, expressive brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Refine the background, blending colors to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the figure and vines to create contrast and visual interest.
step 07
Check the overall balance of the painting and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve the earthy tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre with varying amounts of white. Use ultramarine blue mixed with black and umber for the darker shades of the figure's clothing.

techniques

·blocking in
·expressive brushstrokes
·value studies
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Not simplifying the forms enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife