plate no. 2469
Wheat
Fairfield Porter, 1960
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for practicing color mixing to achieve muted tones and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the house, barn, trees, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, field, and the general shapes of the buildings and trees.
- step 03
Mix the specific colors for the sky, starting with a base of gray and adding subtle variations.
- step 04
Develop the field with a base of yellow ochre, adding darker and lighter tones to suggest texture and depth.
- step 05
Paint the house and barn with flat planes of white and green, paying attention to the angles and proportions.
- step 06
Add details to the trees, using varying shades of green and brown to create depth and texture.
- step 07
Refine the details of the house, including windows, doors, and roof lines.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · sap green · gray
secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue
The key to this painting is mixing muted colors. Use a limited palette and mix complementary colors to create grays and browns. Add white to lighten colors and create subtle variations.
techniques
- ·flat color blocking
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·simplifying forms
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the painting.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the buildings and trees.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes #2, #6, #8
- ·flat brushes #4, #8
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·easel
- ·medium gloss
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. If using acrylics, consider using a retarder to slow drying time.
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