plate no. 2659
Pay Dirt
Charles M. Russell, 1925
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and capturing the effects of light on water and foliage. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, horses, and mountain.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general layout of the landscape.
- step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, mountains, and foreground.
- step 04
Develop the details of the figures and horses, paying attention to proportions and anatomy.
- step 05
Add details to the landscape, including the stream, rocks, and vegetation.
- step 06
Refine the colors and values, creating depth and atmosphere.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use thin washes for the sky and distant mountains, and thicker paint for the foreground.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating colors that are too saturated or bright.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Ignoring the effects of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke