plate no. 5983
The Rainbow, Hormandie
Robert Henri, 1902
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in capturing atmospheric perspective and using loose brushstrokes to create texture. Students can develop their skills in color mixing to achieve realistic greens and grays.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the house, trees, and figure.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, field, and buildings, using thin washes.
- step 03
Add darker values to create shadows and depth, especially in the trees and around the house.
- step 04
Begin building up the texture of the grass and foliage with short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 05
Mix and apply the colors of the rainbow, blending them softly into the sky.
- step 06
Refine the details of the house and figure, paying attention to their proportions and placement.
- step 07
Add highlights to the grass and trees to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious composition.
color palette
primary · sap green · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium yellow
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · violet · yellow ochre
Mix greens by combining yellow and blue with varying amounts of white and umber. Achieve the rainbow colors by layering and blending primary colors.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.
- →Using too much paint, creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the subtle gradations of color in the sky and field.
- →Incorrect proportions of the house and figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water
- ·Linseed oil or acrylic medium
optional
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Varnish
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a middle value.
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