plate no. 6551

Time of harvesting (Mowers)

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingfieldwheatskycloudsfiguresfarmers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures of natural elements like wheat and clouds, and in depicting figures within a landscape setting. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the base color of the wheat field using a mix of yellows, ochres, and browns.
step 04
Add layers of detail to the wheat, varying the colors and values to create depth and texture.
step 05
Paint the figures, paying attention to their proportions and the way they interact with the wheat.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, including the tools and plants.
step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows throughout the painting.
step 08
Add final details, such as the birds in the sky and the small flowers in the field.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · viridian · alizarin crimson

Achieve the golden hues of the wheat by mixing yellow ochre with cadmium yellow and a touch of burnt umber. Create the sky by blending ultramarine blue and titanium white, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix greens for the foliage using viridian and yellow ochre.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the wheat field, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
→Using colors that are too saturated, making the painting look unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value within the wheat field.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium yellow)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette