plate no. 3051
Landscape with Deer
Rosa Bonheur, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering animal anatomy and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in mixing subtle earth tones and depicting natural textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the deer and the mountain range.
- step 02
Establish the sky and distant mountains with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the general shapes and values of the foreground landscape and deer.
- step 04
Refine the forms of the deer, paying attention to their anatomy and proportions.
- step 05
Add details to the landscape, such as individual blades of grass and rocks.
- step 06
Develop the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors with small amounts of blue and black. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering animal fur
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details in the foreground before establishing the background.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- →Making the deer look stiff or unnatural.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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