plate no. 8250

Vegetable Farm

Grant Wood, 1924

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapetreesfieldbuildingfigurefarm

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. Students will also learn to create atmospheric perspective with muted colors in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the buildings and trees.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the background trees, the field, and the buildings.
step 03
Add the vertical tree trunks, paying attention to their spacing and height variations.
step 04
Develop the texture of the field using short, broken brushstrokes and varying shades of brown and green.
step 05
Define the shapes of the buildings with darker values and add details like the roof tiles and windows.
step 06
Add the figure in the field, keeping it simple and silhouetted.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights to the trees and buildings to create a sense of light.

color palette

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

secondary · sap green · raw sienna

Mix burnt umber and yellow ochre for the field. Use Prussian blue and white for the sky, and mix with a touch of umber for the distant trees. Create greens by mixing yellow ochre and Prussian blue.

techniques