plate no. 9394
Wheatland with Woman of Shawl
Janos Tornyai, 1912
some experience helpful
This painting is great for learning how to create a sense of depth using color and value, and how to suggest details with loose brushstrokes. Students can practice simplifying a landscape into basic shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, position of the figure, and cloud shapes.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue and white, blending the colors loosely.
- step 03
Paint the field with a base layer of burnt sienna and yellow ochre.
- step 04
Add darker tones to the trees in the background using burnt umber and a touch of green.
- step 05
Paint the figure with simplified shapes, focusing on the red shawl and white blouse.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the field to create texture and depth.
- step 07
Refine the cloud shapes and add subtle variations in color.
- step 08
Add final details like individual blades of grass and small accents of color.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red
Mix different shades of brown and yellow for the field. Use white to lighten the sky and clouds. Mix red and brown for the shawl's shadows.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the field.
- →Making the clouds too uniform.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure.
- →Using too much detail on the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to help with the broken color effect. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
