plate no. 1816

Balbo lying on the lawn

Adolf Dietrich, 1955

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)animal paintingdoglandscapegrassflowerslakesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering animal anatomy and creating a sense of depth through subtle color variations in the landscape. It also provides practice in painting fur texture and floral details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the dog and the landscape, paying attention to proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the background: sky, lake, and grass, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the dark areas of the dog's fur with a dark brown or black mixture.
step 04
Begin adding highlights and shadows to the dog's fur to create volume and texture.
step 05
Paint the details of the dog's face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add the details of the grass and flowers in the foreground, using small brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the landscape, adding trees, buildings, and other elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to the entire painting to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · black · white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of brown and black for the dog's fur. Use white to lighten the colors for highlights. Mix blue and white for the sky and lake. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow for the grass and flowers.

techniques