plate no. 5775
Summer
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering textures using varied brushstrokes.
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 composition, dividing the canvas into sky, field, and distant horizon.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted burnt umber or raw sienna to tone the canvas.
- step 03
Block in the sky with light blue and green hues, blending softly to create a hazy effect.
- step 04
Establish the basic shapes of the clouds using white and light gray, paying attention to soft edges.
- step 05
Paint the distant horizon with muted greens and blues to suggest atmospheric perspective.
- step 06
Block in the field with ochre, yellow, and brown tones, varying the colors to create depth.
- step 07
Add details to the field, using short, broken brushstrokes to represent individual blades of grass.
- step 08
Add the figures and trees with darker tones, keeping them simple and suggestive.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · sap green
Mix various shades of yellow ochre with white and burnt umber to create the different tones in the field. Use cerulean blue and white for the sky, adding a touch of green for variation.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·soft blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the field, resulting in a cluttered appearance.
- →Creating harsh lines between the sky and the field, losing the atmospheric effect.
- →Using too much pure white, making the clouds look unnatural.
- →Neglecting the subtle color variations in the field and sky.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·odorless mineral spirits or water
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Using a slightly textured canvas can help to create a more naturalistic effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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