plate no. 4063

Peacock, Hen and Cock Pheasant in a Landscape

oilBaroqueanimal paintingpeacockpheasantchickenbirdslandscapefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures of feathers and foliage, as well as understanding subtle color variations to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and placement of the birds and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant foliage with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main color masses of each bird, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin adding details to the feathers, using small brushstrokes and varying colors.
step 05
Develop the texture of the ground and foliage with dry brushing and scumbling techniques.
step 06
Refine the details of the birds' faces and eyes to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create depth.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw sienna

Achieve the iridescent feather colors by layering thin glazes of different hues. Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, and browns by combining red, yellow, and blue.

techniques