plate no. 0103

China dog in a St. Ives window

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)animal paintingdogwindowsealighthouseshipchair

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex shapes and using bold brushstrokes to create texture. It's also a good exercise in color mixing to achieve the specific hues used in the painting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the dog, chair, window, and landscape.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the red of the chair, the blue of the sea and sky, and the white of the dog.
step 03
Add the darker tones to define the shadows and contours of the dog and chair.
step 04
Paint the details of the landscape, including the lighthouse, ship, and distant land.
step 05
Add the spots on the dog, paying attention to their placement and shape.
step 06
Refine the details of the window frame and curtain.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix the blues and whites to create the sky and sea. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the curtain and window frame. Mix the red and white to create the lighter tones on the chair and dog.

techniques