plate no. 1996

Home Pastures

Maynard Dixon, 1915

oilImpressionismgenre paintinghorsesfigureslandscapefieldskycowboys

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing movement. 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. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the horses and figures.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, field, and mountains.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes and colors of the horses, paying attention to their anatomy.
step 04
Add details to the figures, including their clothing and hats.
step 05
Develop the texture of the field with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the horses and figures, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the ropes and other details of the tack.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of cadmium yellow. Achieve the warm browns of the horses by blending burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson.

techniques