plate no. 7491
Landscape
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, trees, and placement of the figure and sheep.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, blending softly.
- step 03
Establish the distant trees with dark greens and blues, using a thin wash.
- step 04
Lay in the base colors for the field, using a mix of browns, greens, and yellows.
- step 05
Add details to the figure and sheep, using small brushstrokes.
- step 06
Develop the foreground with textured brushstrokes to represent grass and vegetation.
- step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final details, such as highlights on the sheep and subtle variations in the sky.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · sap green · raw sienna · cadmium yellow light
Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Create muted tones by adding burnt umber to other colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric perspective.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground, losing the sense of depth.
- →Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unrealistic landscape.
- →Neglecting the subtle variations in value, leading to a flat composition.
- →Not establishing a clear focal point, making the painting feel disorganized.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x24
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning brushes)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·rags
A longer, panoramic canvas shape will help to capture the wide open landscape.
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