plate no. 0612

Deer in a Snowy Forest

Charles M. Russell, 1906

oilRomanticismanimal paintingdeersnowforesttreeswinteranimals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes to create depth and using negative space to define shapes, especially in the trees and snow. It also provides practice in capturing the anatomy and texture of animals in a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the deer and major trees.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and burnt sienna to the sky area.
step 03
Begin layering washes of blues and purples for the distant trees and snow shadows.
step 04
Paint the deer with a mix of burnt umber, raw sienna, and touches of blue for shadows.
step 05
Add details to the trees, using a fine brush to create branches and textures.
step 06
Use white gouache or watercolor to add highlights to the snow and deer.
step 07
Refine the foreground details, adding small branches and foliage with varying shades of brown and ochre.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.