plate no. 1592
Landscape with Sheep
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students learn to blend colors smoothly to create atmospheric perspective and to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the large tree and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of color: sky, trees, field, and path.
- step 03
Establish the dark values in the tree trunk and shadowed areas.
- step 04
Begin blending the colors in the sky to create the stormy atmosphere.
- step 05
Add details to the trees, suggesting leaves with small brushstrokes.
- step 06
Paint the sheep and shepherd, keeping them simple and indistinct.
- step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, adding texture to the grass and path.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the depth and realism.
color palette
primary · viridian green · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light
Achieve the muted greens by mixing viridian green with raw umber and titanium white. Create the atmospheric sky by blending ultramarine blue, titanium white, and a touch of burnt sienna.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·broken color
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, especially in the background.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth.
- →Not blending the colors smoothly enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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