plate no. 7181

Young Bean Farmer

Peter Doig, 1991

oilMagic Realismlandscapelandscapefigurefieldbuildingstreesfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and forms. It also encourages experimentation with expressive brushwork and color choices.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, figure, and fence lines.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt sienna or a similar earth tone to the entire canvas as an underpainting.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the orange field, the muted green sky, and the white buildings.
step 04
Add texture to the field using short, broken brushstrokes and varying shades of orange and yellow.
step 05
Paint the figure with a simplified form and a reddish hue.
step 06
Create the fence posts with dark brown or black, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Paint the branches in the foreground using thick, textured strokes of white and gray.
step 08
Add small details like the green 'beans' on the branches and the barbed wire on the fence.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix burnt sienna with white and yellow ochre to create the various shades of orange in the field. Use Payne's gray and white to create the gray branches. Add small amounts of red to the orange to create the figure.

techniques