plate no. 7126
Study for 'The Cranberry Harvest, Island of Nantucket'
Eastman Johnson, 1879
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing figures in a landscape with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in mixing earth tones and creating a sense of depth through color and value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the hill and figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, adding hints of yellow near the horizon.
- step 03
Establish the base color of the field with a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white.
- step 04
Add darker values to the foreground to create depth, using burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 05
Begin painting the figures with simple shapes, focusing on their gestures and poses.
- step 06
Add details to the hill and trees in the background, using darker greens and browns.
- step 07
Refine the figures, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to the field, sky, and figures to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · raw sienna · burnt umber · sap green
Mix various earth tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and burnt umber. Use white to lighten values and blue to create cooler tones.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·loose brushwork
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring atmospheric perspective, making the background appear too sharp.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#6 round brush
- ·#4 filbert brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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