plate no. 5036
Woman on a Hill
Eastman Johnson, 1880
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and capturing light and shadow to define form. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, the horizon line, and the main landforms.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light blue, fading towards the horizon.
- step 03
Establish the overall color of the field using a mix of browns and yellows, varying the tone to suggest depth.
- step 04
Paint the figure with darker tones, paying attention to the fall of light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the figure's clothing and hat, using small brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the landscape by adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create depth.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Mix browns and yellows with white to create the various tones of the field. Use ultramarine blue to create the sky and to darken shadows.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh and unnatural look.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Not simplifying the forms enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium
Use a medium-tooth canvas to create texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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