plate no. 9993

Kwannon and Horse

oil, boardSymbolismstill lifehorsestatuevasestill lifeflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating soft edges, and capturing the subtle textures of different materials like stone and fabric. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horse, statue, and vases, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of yellow-ochre, leaving some areas lighter and darker for variation.
step 03
Establish the basic tones of the horse with a mix of white, gray, and a touch of yellow-ochre.
step 04
Paint the red saddle and details, using a mix of red and orange, and adding shadows with a touch of black or brown.
step 05
Block in the statue with white and gray, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone to create form.
step 06
Add the blue vase and other smaller details, focusing on their shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final touches like the small white flowers and any remaining details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange) and adding white to soften the colors. Use yellow ochre as a base for many of the muted colors.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·soft blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early.
→Making the colors too bright and saturated.
→Not paying attention to the subtle tonal variations.
→Losing the overall composition by focusing too much on individual elements.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints: yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, burnt umber
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags