plate no. 3979
On the Lookout
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering forms with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, cows, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, establishing the light source and cloud formations.
- step 03
Establish the basic values of the field, using darker greens in the foreground and lighter greens in the distance.
- step 04
Roughly block in the shapes of the cows, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 05
Add the figure, focusing on the gesture and proportions.
- step 06
Refine the details of the cows and figure, adding highlights and shadows.
- step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as flowers and grasses, using small, broken brushstrokes.
- step 08
Adjust values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors as they recede into the distance. Use alizarin crimson and burnt umber to create the red-brown hues.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
- ·implied detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh and unrealistic effect.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source, leading to a lack of depth.
- →Making the colors too saturated, which can flatten the image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted hog bristle brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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