plate no. 3176
Valley of the Wisconsin
John Steuart Curry, 1945
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and rendering textures using hatching and cross-hatching techniques. Students will also learn to simplify complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and major shapes.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values first, concentrating on the trees and foreground.
- step 03
Begin layering in mid-tones, using hatching and cross-hatching to build up value.
- step 04
Pay attention to the direction of light and shadow to create form.
- step 05
Add details to the buildings and fields, using finer lines.
- step 06
Soften edges where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Refine the sky with subtle variations in tone.
- step 08
Add final highlights to bring out the details.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary · gray
Vary the shades of gray by mixing black and white in different proportions. Use more black for darker areas and more white for lighter areas.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value layering
- ·linear perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details in the background
- →Creating overly harsh lines
- →Ignoring the direction of light
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·drawing paper
- ·eraser
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
- ·pencil sharpener
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·blending stump
- ·charcoal pencils
Use a smooth drawing paper for easier blending. Experiment with different pencil grades to achieve a range of values.
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