plate no. 3678
Cattle in Moonlight
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork to capture the mood of a moonlit landscape. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the position of the moon, the trees, and the cows.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray tone, blending smoothly.
- step 03
Establish the dark mass of the trees, using a mix of dark greens and browns.
- step 04
Roughly block in the field with varying shades of green and brown, paying attention to the perspective.
- step 05
Add the cows, simplifying their forms and focusing on their overall shape and value.
- step 06
Paint the moon with a soft, diffused glow, using light yellows and whites.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground grass, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 08
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall atmospheric effect.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · sap green
Mix various shades of blue-gray for the sky by combining ultramarine blue, raw umber, and white. Achieve the greens for the field by mixing yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt sienna.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Making the colors too saturated and bright.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
- →Not simplifying the forms of the cows enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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