plate no. 1101
Tornado Over Kansas
John Steuart Curry, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in motion and creating a sense of dramatic atmosphere. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive image.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the tornado.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the sky and the ground.
- step 03
Begin to define the shapes of the figures, paying attention to their proportions and gestures.
- step 04
Add details to the faces and clothing of the figures.
- step 05
Paint the tornado, using swirling brushstrokes to create a sense of movement.
- step 06
Add details to the farm buildings and the surrounding landscape.
- step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the animals and the debris in the foreground.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Mix raw umber and ultramarine blue for the dark, stormy sky. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Burnt sienna and yellow ochre can be mixed to create the warm tones of the ground and the figures' skin.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Making the colors too bright and saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 18x24
- ·Oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Palette knife
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·Varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for a slightly textured surface. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
