plate no. 2642
On the Moors
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice loose brushwork and capturing figures in a landscape setting. It will also help with understanding color temperature and creating atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, dog, and horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the large shapes of color for the sky, land, and figures using thin washes.
- step 03
Develop the sky with loose, broken brushstrokes, varying the values to suggest clouds.
- step 04
Add detail to the figure, focusing on the striped jacket and the folds of the skirt.
- step 05
Paint the dog, paying attention to its anatomy and the way light hits its fur.
- step 06
Refine the landscape, adding details to the rocks and vegetation.
- step 07
Adjust values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · cerulean blue · yellow ochre
Mix grays and browns by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cerulean blue to cool down the grays in the sky. Add cadmium red to burnt umber to create the red-brown tones in the hat and jacket.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Not capturing the correct proportions of the figure and dog.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2-6
- ·flat brushes size 4-8
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for broken brushwork. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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