plate no. 0923
Cow Amongst the Trees (study)
James Taylor Harwood, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using expressive brushstrokes to depict foliage. It also provides practice in creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees and the path.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue, allowing some canvas to show through.
- step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage using a mix of dark greens and browns.
- step 04
Add lighter greens and yellows to the foliage to create highlights and depth.
- step 05
Paint the tree trunks with varying shades of brown and hints of green and yellow where light hits them.
- step 06
Define the path and the cow with simple shapes and tones.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground foliage and flowers using small, expressive brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding subtle color variations.
color palette
primary · viridian green · burnt umber · titanium white · cerulean blue
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and use white to lighten values. Create browns by mixing umber with blue or red.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Creating flat, uniform areas of color instead of varying the tones and hues.
- →Ignoring the effect of light and shadow on the landscape.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#4, #8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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