plate no. 3468
Anguish
August Friedrich Schenck, 1878
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering animal anatomy, creating atmospheric perspective, and using a limited palette to achieve a somber mood. It also provides practice in depicting textures like wool and feathers.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the sheep, lamb, and crows.
- step 02
Establish the background sky with blended layers of gray and brown.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the sheep and crows with dark undertones.
- step 04
Develop the texture of the sheep's wool using short, broken brushstrokes and highlights.
- step 05
Paint the lamb, paying attention to its delicate form and pale color.
- step 06
Add details to the crows, varying their poses and sizes to create depth.
- step 07
Render the snow with subtle variations in tone and texture, suggesting footprints and shadows.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add final details to enhance the emotional impact.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber
Mix ivory black and raw umber for the crows and shadows. Use titanium white to lighten these mixtures for highlights and snow. Add a touch of yellow ochre to the white for the sheep's wool.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the crows, making them appear flat.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
- →Using too much white, resulting in a harsh, unrealistic snow effect.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sheep's wool.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of raw umber) can be helpful.
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