plate no. 9047

Young Corn

Grant Wood, 1931

oil, canvasRegionalismlandscapelandscapehillstreeshousefieldssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle gradations and in creating depth through layering and atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, trees, and house, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Establish the base colors for the hills and fields, using a range of greens and yellows.
step 04
Begin layering the trees, using darker greens and browns to create depth and form.
step 05
Paint the house, using a light yellow and adding shadows for dimension.
step 06
Add details to the fields, such as the rows of corn and the figures of the workers.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final details, such as the fence and the texture of the trees.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre, sap green, and ultramarine blue in different proportions. Use burnt umber and white to create the darker tones for the trees and shadows.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective
·geometric simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall simplicity of the composition.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the muted tones of the original painting.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and perspective.
→Not simplifying the forms of the trees and hills enough.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes
·flat brushes
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·varnish

Use a smooth canvas to achieve the smooth, blended look of the original painting. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly, but oils will allow for more subtle blending.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein