plate no. 1792

Four Mounted Indians

Charles M. Russell, 1914

oilRomanticismgenre paintinghorsesfiguresplainsskymountainsgrass

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in motion and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures using loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement and proportions of the horses and figures.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general layout of the landscape.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant mountains.
step 04
Add the mid-ground colors, focusing on the plains and the general color of the horses.
step 05
Begin to refine the details of the horses and figures, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the landscape, such as the grass and the texture of the ground.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures' clothing and equipment.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber with white for the horses and landscape. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the browns and create shadows. Add a touch of cadmium red to warm up the browns.

techniques