Rustling up some corn
Posted: October 17, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized 54 CommentsIf you read my newsletter “The Wheelbarrow” this week, you might have seen this little value sketch I painted. It was a quick study for a painting I had in mind of a cornfield that I saw when I was out on a drive in my area.
I just finished the painting, and thought I’d post it here. It was a bit of a crazy subject to paint: all pattern and texture but no central focus. I wanted to convey the waves of horizontal movement that I saw on the swaying corn that day, as well as the dried corn stalks that still had bits of green on them.
I introduced a few colours to my palette for this one, inspired in part by the incredible Andrew Wyeth watercolours that I saw last month at the Farnsworth Museum in Maine. I used lots of Raw Umber, Yellow Ochre and Payne’s Grey — colours that don’t have a permanent spot on my 18-colour studio palette but that were well suited for this almost monochrome subject.
Before starting the painting, I made myself a colour chart so I could decide in advance what mixes I wanted to use. As you can see, Raw Umber creates a very mottled effect on the paper because of its large pigment particles. I wanted to make sure that the texture was not too distracting in my mixes so I tried it on its own as well as mixed with other pigments. I also did a little swatch for the blue sky.
Here’s the final watercolour. If you’re wondering how long a painting like this takes, the answer is: many hours! To keep all of these shapes separate, my pencil drawing is fairly detailed. And then it takes some time to paint all the positive areas and then the negative shapes between them. I painted this on a 20″ x 16″ sheet of Arches CP 140 lb paper.
Nailed it! 🙂
Chris, thank you so much!
Fantastic, what a hell of a job but very very beautiful!
Frieda, thanks so much.
C’est magnifique. Les couleurs, les valeurs, cet entrelas de feuilles si bien rendu ainsi que l’ondulation d’ensemble! J’imagine immédiatement ce qui a captivé votre attention car les vagues des champs de blé sous le vent (en France) provoquent toujours mon admiration. Bravo Shari! Je n’ose même pas imaginer que je puisse en faire autant un jour! Par quel bout commence-t-on un tel sujet???
Bonjour, et merci pour vos commentaires. C’est très gentil et je l’apprécie beaucoup.
Like Mugnier said – where do you start with this besides a good drawing!?! I grew up near acres of corn and you have caught the movement in the wind of the drying stalks so well – I can hear the rustling, feel the wind, and know that harvest time and the beginning of autumn is here. Nicely done!
Naomi, thank you! This was one of those that took a long time but I have to say that I really enjoyed the process. I got lost in the corn but I found my way out eventually.
Incredible patience and a beautiful result!
Laurie, thank you so much.
Just beautiful!
Many thanks Louise!
Looks like a tough subject
Tough but enjoyable.
I appreciated the inclusion of the color chart. I also appreciate all the work you put into this painting…. having been amongst cornstalks before, these come off as very real along with the audio of crunchy and breezy. That’s a compliment!
Many thanks Nora!!
This is a remarkable work of art. I can only imagine how many hours this took, it is just joyful and so beautiful. Inspirational.
Maureen, thanks so much.
Bravo Shari. Super belle interprétation. Pas évident à peindre.
Jocelyne F
Merci Jocelyne!
Wow. That is an amazing painting. You always astound me when you use those very muted colors much like the beets.
This is one of your absolute best!!
Cynthia, it’s always great to hear from you. Thank you!
love your painting, it really is spectacular…but im wondering if part way through all those hours did you think…i should have made this smaller lol…
Yes, I surely would have cut the page in half…maybe a few times!
Bernadette, you can read what I wrote to Ruth. I did consider cutting it but decided against it.
Ruth, it’s funny that you should say this. After I was done, I considered cropping it because I thought there was just too much corn. But in the end, I left it whole because I thought that the wavy leaves gave it the movement. It’s been in my office so I see it every day. Still think it works fine at the full size.
Shari–this is beautiful! Yes, definitely nailed it!
Lois, thanks so much.
Shari, like the cornstalks in the wind, I’m totally blown away. Very daring and beautifully realized. Brava! (again)
Jeff, you know I always love hearing from you. Thank you.
Wow. Amazing.
Thank you Claudia.
Once again-in awe of your work!
Denise, once again, thank you so much.
Totally stunning. How you keep it all together is amazing. Also your patience do do all the details shadows little negative spaces etc etc is amazing.
Irene, thanks so much.
Beautiful. There’s a rhythm to it that makes it alive.
I live about an hour away from the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA, where there’s a large collection of Wyeth art (from all three generations). Highly recommended if you’re ever in the Philadelphia area! It’s fascinating to examine Andrew’s studies and finished pieces in person. You can also tour Andrew’s and NC Wyeth’s studios.
Debbie, I was just telling my husband that we should visit the Brandywine Museum one of these days. It’s definitely very high on my list. Thanks for this reminder.
I am amazed at the size of this painting. Working in such detail is tedious and time consuming. You were able to convey the depth and movement without muddy strokes. The colors are clean, the blue sky vibrant. It is beautiful.
Bernadette, thank you so much.
Well done, Shari!!! I look at this and gasp because I don’t even know where one would even start such an ambitious and challenging subject, but you did it. I think the same thing when I see all your works that include boats in a harbor – very intimidating subject matters but you tackle them all with grace and beauty. All of your work is awesome, including this one. Well done, indeed!!
Lynn, this is so nice to read. Many thanks!
Oh my gosh this is amazing. I can really feel the atmosphere of a warm fall day and the corn is done for the season yet still standing. The detail is incredible!
Susie, thank you!!
Wow! I’m worn out just thinking about it!
Tony, I hope you had a nap.
Dazzling! I can almost hear the rustling of the stalks.
Thank you for sharing.
Rosemary, thanks for listening : )
Just beautiful!
Many thanks Diana.
Love this, Shari.❤️
Michele, thank you!
Utterly beautiful, with that quality that makes one want to keep looking at it.
Many thanks!