plate no. 3206
Flock of sheep with shepherd in the snow
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and using a limited palette to convey mood. It also provides practice in suggesting form with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the placement of the shepherd, and the general shape of the flock.
- step 02
Establish the sky using a thin wash of gray, blending it slightly towards the horizon.
- step 03
Block in the large shapes of the snow using a mix of white, gray, and a touch of brown, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 04
Add the dark masses of the sheep using a mix of brown and black, focusing on the overall shape of the flock rather than individual details.
- step 05
Introduce highlights on the sheep and snow with thicker applications of white and light gray.
- step 06
Paint the shepherd with dark, simplified shapes, suggesting form with subtle variations in tone.
- step 07
Add details like the birds and any foreground elements with small, deliberate brushstrokes.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and edges to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre
Achieve the various grays by mixing white with black and small amounts of raw umber. Use yellow ochre sparingly to warm up the browns and grays.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
- →Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh, unrealistic effect.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Using too many colors, muddying the overall effect.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·palette knife
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#2 round brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
A slightly textured canvas will enhance the effect of the broken color technique.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
