plate no. 8882

Roasting Ears

Thomas Hart Benton, 1939

oilRegionalismgenre paintingfigurecornfieldtreeslandscapehousesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures like foliage and earth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, cornfield, house, and trees.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the path and fence.
step 03
Block in the main color masses: sky, foliage, ground, and the figure's clothing.
step 04
Develop the details of the cornfield, paying attention to the shapes and colors of the leaves and ears.
step 05
Add details to the figure, including facial features and clothing folds.
step 06
Refine the background elements, such as the house and trees, using lighter values to create atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · earthy browns · greens · blues · white

secondary · yellows · reds · muted oranges

Mix various shades of green by combining blues and yellows with touches of brown. Achieve earthy tones by mixing browns, reds, and yellows. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques