plate no. 7357
Chicken yard
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of light and atmosphere. It's also a good exercise in depicting a scene with multiple subjects and varying textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the chicken coop, the chickens, and the background foliage.
- step 02
Block in the basic colors of the sky, foliage, and ground using thin washes.
- step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows and forms of the chicken coop and chickens.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to create the texture of the foliage and the feathers of the chickens.
- step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the details of the chickens and the ground.
- step 06
Add highlights to the chickens and foliage to create a sense of light and depth.
- step 07
Refine the details of the chicken coop and the chickens' features.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw sienna
Mix various shades of brown and beige for the ground and chicken coop. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix greens with yellow ochre and blue for the foliage.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Using too much detail on the chickens, making them look stiff.
- →Not paying attention to the values, resulting in a flat image.
- →Failing to capture the light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·gouache paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·soft cloth
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·easel
- ·medium (for gouache)
Use high-quality gouache paints for best results. A toned canvas can be helpful for establishing values.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
