plate no. 3644

Bird in Landscape

Graham Sutherland, 1944

oilNeo-Romanticismlandscapebirdlandscapeflowerscageabstractstill life

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in abstracting from observed forms and using expressive brushstrokes to convey mood and texture. It also provides practice in layering colors and creating depth through overlapping shapes.

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 and composition, focusing on the placement of the bird, flowers, and cage structure.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of pink, allowing some variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the bird and other elements using simplified shapes.
step 04
Add the yellow cage structure with bold, visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Introduce secondary colors like purple and blue to create depth and interest.
step 06
Refine the details of the bird and flowers, using black lines to define edges and add contrast.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and volume.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · pink · yellow · white

secondary · purple · blue · black

Achieve the pink background by mixing white with a touch of red or magenta. Create variations in the yellow by adding small amounts of orange or brown. Mix purple from red and blue.

techniques