plate no. 5244

Cows in a Meadow

Roger de La Fresnaye, 1909

oil, panelExpressionismlandscapelandscapecowstreesmeadowfigureanimals

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified forms, color mixing for natural light, and creating depth with overlapping shapes. It's a good exercise in capturing a scene's essence rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the landscape: horizon line, hills, and major tree placements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, ground, and tree canopies using thinned paint.
step 03
Add the tree trunks and branches, varying the thickness and direction of the lines.
step 04
Paint the cows using simplified shapes and contrasting black and white.
step 05
Add the figure with simple shapes and colors.
step 06
Define the shadows under the trees and cows to create depth.
step 07
Add texture to the ground with short, broken brushstrokes of green and yellow.
step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · ivory black

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve earth tones by combining burnt umber with yellow ochre and white. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·simplified forms
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking details and losing the painting's simplicity.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform and losing the sense of texture.
→Not establishing a clear light source, resulting in flat shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, sap green, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·rags