plate no. 1764

Cattle on Saltholm

Theodor Philipsen, 1912

oilImpressionismanimal paintingcattlelandscapeskyfieldanimalswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting animal forms and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in mixing realistic earth tones and depicting subtle light variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the cattle, the horizon line, and the water.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and pinks, blending softly.
step 03
Establish the base tones for the field and the ground, using a mix of browns, greens, and yellows.
step 04
Begin painting the cattle, starting with the darkest shadows and gradually adding highlights.
step 05
Add the details of the water, reflecting the sky and the surrounding landscape.
step 06
Paint the fence and the stones, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 07
Refine the details of the animals, adding texture and definition to their fur.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the birds in the sky and the small details in the foreground.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cerulean blue

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix browns and greens by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix blues and whites to create the sky.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·layering
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cerulean blue, yellow ochre, sap green)
·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·flat brushes (#6, #8)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·palette knife