plate no. 7732

Barnyard with Herd

Gustave de Smet, 1936

oilExpressionismanimal paintingbarncowtreesdoghousefarmanimal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and form. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve muted and earthy tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the barn, trees, cow, and doghouse, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color using thin washes, starting with the background and then the main elements.
step 03
Build up layers of paint, gradually adding more detail and definition to the forms.
step 04
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest, especially in the trees and foreground.
step 05
Mix colors on the palette to achieve the muted and earthy tones of the original painting.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the cow and doghouse, paying attention to their unique characteristics.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall composition, making any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and shapes.

color palette

primary · red ochre · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · sap green · titanium white · ultramarine blue

Mix red ochre and burnt umber for the barn, adding white to lighten. Use yellow ochre with a touch of burnt umber and white for the cow. Mix sap green and burnt umber for the darker greens, and add white for highlights.

techniques