plate no. 8659
Farm Pets
William Sidney Cooper, 1889
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building, figure, and animals.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
- step 03
Block in the major color areas: sky, foliage, building, and ground.
- step 04
Start refining the details of the building, paying attention to the textures of the stone.
- step 05
Paint the figure and animals, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.
- step 06
Develop the foliage and background, using layers of color to create depth.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form of the objects.
- step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · raw sienna · ivory black
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve earth tones by mixing burnt umber with white, yellow ochre, or raw sienna. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Neglecting the importance of atmospheric perspective.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the underpainting process.
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