plate no. 2006
Cattle on a Bridge, Kent
William Sidney Cooper, 1897
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in depicting realistic textures of foliage and wood.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the bridge, trees, and water.
- step 02
Establish the basic value structure by blocking in the darks and lights with thin washes.
- step 03
Develop the sky and distant background elements, focusing on soft edges and muted colors.
- step 04
Paint the water, paying attention to the reflections of the bridge and trees.
- step 05
Add details to the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens and browns.
- step 06
Render the bridge and cattle, focusing on their forms and textures.
- step 07
Add the ducks and other small details to enhance the composition.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · Prussian blue
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · ivory black
Achieve the muted greens by mixing yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and a touch of burnt sienna. Create the browns by blending raw umber, burnt sienna, and ivory black. Lighten colors with titanium white.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·wet-on-dry blending
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Making the reflections too literal and symmetrical.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·Prussian blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the luminosity of the colors.
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