plate no. 1235
Victory Garden
Horace Pippin, 1943
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified forms and color blocking, as well as layering and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also offers an opportunity to explore narrative and storytelling through visual elements.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, house, fence, and flower groupings.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the house, the figure's clothing, and the main flower colors.
- step 03
Add details to the figure, including the face, hands, and sewing project.
- step 04
Develop the flower shapes and colors, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 05
Paint the fence, paying attention to the spacing and perspective.
- step 06
Add details to the background trees and foliage.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed.
- step 08
Add the artist's signature.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Titanium white · Yellow ochre
secondary · Sap green · Burnt umber · Payne's gray
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix browns and grays from combinations of primary colors.
techniques
- ·Color blocking
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Layering
- ·Simplified forms
- ·Visible brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details
- →Blending colors too much
- →Ignoring the overall composition
- →Using too many colors
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Acrylic paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Easel
Acrylic paints are recommended for their quick drying time and ease of use. Consider using a textured canvas to enhance the brushstroke effect.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
