plate no. 6320

Cows by the Stream

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapetreeswatercowslandscapefieldreflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and color mixing to create atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing reflections in water and depicting animal forms with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, tree placement, and the position of the cows.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, field, and distant trees.
step 03
Begin adding details to the trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest leaves and branches.
step 04
Develop the water reflections, paying attention to the colors and shapes reflected from the landscape.
step 05
Define the cows with simple shapes and colors, using highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, including grasses and other vegetation.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adjusting as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green · raw umber

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, and adjust with white or cadmium yellow. Achieve the warm tones of the trees and water by mixing burnt sienna with yellow ochre and alizarin crimson. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating mud by over-mixing colors on the palette.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the landscape.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, viridian green, raw umber)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags