plate no. 8036

Mountain landscape with plowing farmers

oilRomanticismanimal paintinghorsesmountainsfarmerfieldskylake

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering animal anatomy, particularly horses, in a dynamic pose.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the horses, farmer, mountains, and sky.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the field.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, mountains, field, and horses using thin washes.
step 04
Develop the values and details of the mountains, using lighter tones for distant peaks.
step 05
Add details to the horses, focusing on their anatomy and musculature, using a variety of browns and blacks.
step 06
Paint the farmer, paying attention to the folds of his clothing and the details of his face.
step 07
Add details to the plow and other elements in the foreground.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · sap green

Mix various shades of brown by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and ivory black. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors for distant mountains.

techniques