plate no. 3016

Horses grazing in a Normandy landscape

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapehorsespondgrasstreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as capturing the subtle variations in light and shadow across a landscape. It will also improve their ability to paint animals in a natural 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, including the horizon line, the placement of the horses, pond, and the distant building.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, grass, trees, and the general tones of the horses.
step 03
Begin layering colors in the sky, creating soft transitions and subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Develop the landscape, focusing on capturing the texture of the grass and foliage with varied brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the horses, paying attention to their anatomy and the way light falls on their forms. Use a limited palette to create color harmony.
step 06
Add details to the pond, reflecting the surrounding landscape and the horses.
step 07
Refine the details of the distant building and the fence, adding depth to the composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · viridian green · yellow ochre · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Use raw umber and burnt sienna to create the earth tones, adjusting the values with titanium white. Mix ultramarine blue with white for the sky.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating overly saturated colors that detract from the overall harmony.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
→Neglecting the importance of light and shadow in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (viridian green, yellow ochre, titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow light)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags