plate no. 9613

Free Trappers

Charles M. Russell, 1911

oilRomanticismgenre paintingmountainshorsefiguresnowrockssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures like fur and rock. It also provides practice in painting figures and animals in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, horses, and mountains.
step 02
Establish the light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and mountains.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the figures and horses, paying attention to anatomy and proportion.
step 05
Add texture to the rocks and ground using varied brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the atmospheric perspective by layering colors and softening edges in the background.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Glaze areas to unify colors and create depth.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue and purple for the mountains. Use burnt sienna and white to create the warm tones of the horses and figures. Add touches of yellow ochre and alizarin crimson for highlights and shadows.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the principles of atmospheric perspective.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife