plate no. 1680

Four Dogs; a Collie from Tweedale, a Scots Deerhound, An Otter Terrier and a Scots Terrier

oilRomanticismanimal paintingdogslandscapeanimalshillsclouds

some experience helpful

This painting provides an opportunity to practice rendering realistic animal fur and creating depth in a landscape using atmospheric perspective. Students can also learn about creating a focal point through composition and value contrast.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the dogs and the landscape.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of color, focusing on the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the dogs, paying attention to their individual forms and proportions.
step 04
Begin adding details to the dogs' fur, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the landscape, adding details to the hills and clouds.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay attention to the light source and how it affects the colors and values.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna with white to create the various shades of brown for the dogs' fur. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the cool tones of the sky and distant hills.

techniques