plate no. 1719

Buffalo on the Plains

oilRomanticismanimal paintingbuffaloplainsmountainsskygrasstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create a sense of depth and distance. It also provides practice in rendering animal forms and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, mountain range, and placement of the buffalo.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of yellows, oranges, and blues, blending smoothly.
step 03
Establish the distant mountains with muted oranges and browns, using lighter values for the snow-capped peaks.
step 04
Paint the middle ground with a dark, horizontal band to create depth.
step 05
Block in the general shapes of the trees and bushes, paying attention to their placement and size.
step 06
Begin adding details to the foreground, including the grass and the buffalo, using a variety of browns, yellows, and greens.
step 07
Refine the details of the buffalo, adding highlights and shadows to create form and texture.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky, mountains, and foreground to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange · sap green

Achieve the atmospheric haze by mixing small amounts of blue and white into the yellows and oranges. Create the browns for the buffalo by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and small amounts of blue.

techniques