plate no. 5531

Long Shadows. Cattle on the Island of Saltholm

oilImpressionismanimal paintingcowslandscapefieldskyanimalsshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow, and simplifying complex forms into expressive brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in creating depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the cows and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using broad brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the ground plane with a base layer of ochre and green tones.
step 04
Begin adding the cows, starting with the largest ones in the foreground, using simplified shapes and colors.
step 05
Develop the shadows cast by the cows, paying attention to their direction and length.
step 06
Add details to the cows, such as markings and textures, using smaller brushes.
step 07
Refine the background elements, such as the distant buildings and the horizon line.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and ultramarine blue with white. Use yellow ochre to create warm highlights and earthy tones.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima
·simplified forms

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Failing to capture the correct values and creating a flat image.
→Ignoring the direction of light and creating inconsistent shadows.
→Making the cows too detailed and realistic.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, sap green)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife