plate no. 7766

The Birthplace of Herbert Hoover, West Branch, Iowa

Grant Wood, 1931

oil, boardRegionalismlandscapetreeshouseslandscaperoadfiguresky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth using linear perspective and how to simplify complex shapes into more manageable forms. It also provides practice in creating a cohesive color scheme with limited hues.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the road and the placement of the houses and trees.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the road.
step 03
Add the basic shapes of the trees, using a darker shade for the shadows and a lighter shade for the highlights.
step 04
Paint the houses, paying attention to the angles and the placement of the windows and doors.
step 05
Add the details to the trees, using small, repetitive brushstrokes to create the texture of the leaves.
step 06
Paint the figure in the yard, keeping it simple and stylized.
step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix yellow ochre and raw umber to create the various shades of brown and green in the painting. Add titanium white to lighten the colors and ultramarine blue to darken them.

techniques