CLICK HERE to purchase this 5x7 plein air
oil painting
Both knives and brushes were used in creating this piece.
Here’s how I painted it. When I arrived at this farm I began exploring
compositions with a number of quick pencil “value” sketches like the one shown
below. I carry a short mechanical pencil with a thick, soft lead and I use the
side of the lead for establishing the large masses of tone. At this stage I am
interested in how the big shapes of lights and darks work together rather than
creating a line drawing. I use a kneaded eraser also, pinching the edge of the
eraser into a thin sharp edge which I use to lift out light accents like the
tree limbs. By the way, I saved this sketch and I will include it with the
painting because I think it might be interesting for the buyer of the painting
to see how it all began.
I started the painting with the focal point; the tractor
(below). I was interested in capturing the basic shapes and colors while not
belaboring it with unnecessary detail and fussiness. I got this far on the
painting when passing clouds suddenly hid the sun.
I paused for a short time while the sun was hidden behind
clouds because it completely changed the colors and lighting of the scene.
While I waited for the clouds to pass I shot the photo below as a record of the
actual setting. Notice the sheets of clear plastic on the rows of crops. These
are placed over newly planted crops; I’m not entirely sure of the reason but I
assume it must provide a “greenhouse” effect as well as keeping birds from the
seeds.
Moments later the sun again came out and I resumed
painting. I spent some time establishing the trees and limbs shown below (as I
had indicated in the pencil sketch), then I put in the wall and distant
mountains. From this point on it was merely a matter of taking each area to
completion. I emphasized knife work in the wall behind the farm, as well as on the entire foreground areas. You can see the finished painting at the top of this blog posting.
If you found this interesting I would love to get an
email from you. Thanks for stopping by, and have a colorful day. – Tom Brown
