plate no. 2715
The lunch break
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures with visible brushstrokes and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a natural setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, haystacks, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the sky and distant landscape with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the haystacks and the field, using a warm color palette.
- step 04
Add details to the trees and foliage, varying the greens and browns.
- step 05
Paint the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow on the clothing and skin.
- step 06
Refine the textures of the haystacks and the field with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final details like the jug, hat, and small plants.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow
Mix various shades of brown and yellow ochre for the field and haystacks. Use a touch of blue to create cooler tones in the shadows and distant landscape. Mix greens with yellow and blue for the foliage.
techniques
- ·Impasto
- ·Broken color
- ·Scumbling
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating a flat, uniform texture in the field and haystacks.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and landscape.
- →Making the figure too stiff or unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·Varnish
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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