
plate no. 4700
Horace Pippin, 1931
Recreating this painting will help students understand how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values, and how to create texture using visible brushstrokes and limited color palette.
technical profile
approach — 8 steps
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the buildings, the hill, and the shell holes.
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the buildings.
Block in the dark areas of the hill and sky with a diluted dark tone.
Paint the white walls of the buildings, leaving some areas darker to suggest shadows and damage.
Add texture to the roofs and ground using short, broken brushstrokes.
Define the details of the shell holes and the surrounding grass.
Add the observation balloon in the sky as a final detail.
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre
Mix ivory black and titanium white to create various shades of gray. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm up the grays.
techniques
common pitfalls
surface · stretched canvas
required
optional
Use a canvas with a medium texture to help with the dry brushing technique. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base value.
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