plate no. 5361

Wind Blown Asters

Charles E. Burchfield, 1951

oilExpressionismlandscapeflowersfieldskycloudsbutterflybuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to convey mood and atmosphere. It also encourages simplification of forms and stylized representation of nature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main compositional elements: horizon line, building, and flower groupings.
step 02
Block in the sky with diluted washes of gray and purple, adding yellow highlights to the clouds.
step 03
Paint the field with broad strokes of yellow and tan, varying the tones to create depth.
step 04
Begin adding the flower shapes with pink, purple, and yellow, focusing on their overall form rather than precise detail.
step 05
Introduce the dark green foliage using expressive, jagged brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the butterfly with bright orange and black, simplifying its wing patterns.
step 07
Refine the details of the flowers and foliage, adding dark accents for definition.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and field, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow · purple · gray · pink

secondary · orange · green · tan

Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white, and add touches of purple or blue to create atmospheric effects. Achieve the pinks and purples by mixing red and blue with white. Use yellow and blue to create the greens.

techniques

·dry brush
·color mixing
·expressive brushwork
·layering
·washes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to simplify the forms and focusing too much on realism.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture and interest.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper 140lb
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels
·pencil

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for layering. Experiment with different brush sizes and shapes to achieve a variety of textures.

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