plate no. 9630

Big Horn Sheep

Charles M. Russell, 1904

oilRomanticismanimal paintingmountainssheeprocksskyanimals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic animal forms and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of rocks and mountains using varied brushstrokes.

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 mountains, rocks, and sheep, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the sky and distant mountain, creating a soft, atmospheric background.
step 03
Begin layering in the rocks, using a mix of burnt umber, raw sienna, and white to create variations in tone and texture.
step 04
Paint the sheep with a base layer of yellow ochre, gradually adding shadows and highlights with burnt sienna and white.
step 05
Add details to the sheep, such as the horns, eyes, and fur, using a fine brush.
step 06
Create the illusion of depth by blurring the details of the distant mountains and rocks.
step 07
Add final touches, such as small details on the rocks and highlights on the sheep.
step 08
Allow to dry completely.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the base color of the sheep. Use white to lighten tones and burnt umber to darken shadows. Mix Payne's gray with white for the distant mountains.

techniques