plate no. 9976
Seaweed Gatherer
Paul Serusier, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms, color blocking, and how to create a sense of depth using color and value. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene with minimal detail.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition: haystacks, fields, figure, and water line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue.
- step 03
Apply flat areas of color for the distant hills (greens and yellows).
- step 04
Paint the haystacks with a base of burnt sienna, adding darker and lighter tones for form.
- step 05
Block in the fields with ochre and green, varying the tones to suggest depth.
- step 06
Paint the water with horizontal strokes of blues, grays, and whites.
- step 07
Add the figure with simplified shapes and dark colors.
- step 08
Refine details and add highlights where necessary.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · Prussian blue · titanium white
secondary · sap green · raw umber · light gray
Mix greens by combining Prussian blue and yellow ochre. Create variations in the ochre and sienna by adding white, umber, or a touch of blue.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified forms
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·horizontal brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplified, abstracted feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the texture.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Using a slightly textured canvas can enhance the brushstroke visibility. Acrylics will dry faster, while oils allow for more blending time.
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