plate no. 1680

Seedling

Lynd Ward, 1950

oilExpressionismsymbolic paintingfiguretree stumplandscapehandsgroundsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures using hatching and cross-hatching techniques, as well as understanding how to create depth and form with value contrast in a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with solid black.
step 03
Begin adding layers of hatching to define the forms and create mid-tones.
step 04
Use cross-hatching to build up darker values and create more complex textures.
step 05
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to convey the form of the objects.
step 06
Add details such as the texture of the tree stump and the figure's clothing.
step 07
Refine the values and textures to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and value contrast.