plate no. 2350

Buying Polo Ponies in the West

Frederic Remington, 1905

oilImpressionismgenre paintinghorsesfiguresbuildingslandscapewesternanimals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures and animals in a landscape setting, and understanding how light affects form and color. It also provides practice in creating depth using atmospheric perspective and color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the horse, figures, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, ground, buildings, and major color masses of the figures and horse.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the horse and figures, paying attention to the direction of the light source.
step 04
Refine the shapes and details of the figures, horse, and buildings, adding details like saddles, hats, and clothing.
step 05
Develop the background landscape, using lighter colors and less detail to create depth.
step 06
Add highlights and details to the foreground, such as the shadows and textures of the ground.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium yellow light · alizarin crimson

Mix browns and earth tones by combining burnt sienna, raw umber, and ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix subtle variations of colors for the ground and sky.

techniques