plate no. 9774

Leaving the Sheep Pen

Charles Jacque, 1889

oilRealismgenre paintingsheepshepherdessdogbarnanimalsrural scene

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the shepherdess, sheep, dog, and barn door.
step 02
Block in the main shapes with thin washes of color, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up the forms of the sheep with short, textured brushstrokes, varying the color slightly to suggest individual animals.
step 04
Add details to the shepherdess, focusing on the folds of her clothing and the highlights on her face.
step 05
Define the barn door and surrounding wall, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes to create a sense of texture.
step 06
Paint the dog, paying attention to its form and the direction of the light.
step 07
Add final details, such as the lantern and the debris on the ground.
step 08
Glaze with thin washes to unify the painting and adjust the values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of the secondary colors. Use white to lighten the values and create highlights.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·scumbling
·glazing
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and uninteresting painting.
→Making the sheep look too uniform and lacking individual character.
→Using colors that are too bright and saturated, which will detract from the overall mood.