plate no. 8074

Dog and Priest

Alex Colville, 1978

oilContemporary Realismgenre paintingdogfigurewaterlandscapedockcoast

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in precise rendering, subtle color mixing, and creating a sense of realism through careful observation. It also provides practice in depicting textures and forms with smooth brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed line drawing of the composition, paying close attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, water, dock, figure, and dog.
step 03
Begin refining the colors and values in the sky and water, creating subtle gradations.
step 04
Work on the dock, carefully rendering the wood grain and shadows.
step 05
Focus on the figure and dog, building up the forms with layers of paint and paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 06
Add details such as the dog's collar, the figure's hands, and the distant landscape.
step 07
Refine the edges and details to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · raw umber

secondary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle grays and blues by mixing black and white with small amounts of blue and umber. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warmer tones in the wood and skin.

techniques