plate no. 9136

Peacocks and Fountain (decorative Panel)

John Duncan, 1905

oilSymbolismgenre paintinggardenfountainpeacockstatuesfigurearchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for muted tones, and rendering complex shapes like the fountain and peacock.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the fountain, figure, and peacock.
step 02
Establish the background with a light wash of muted greens and blues for the sky and distant hills.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the fountain, statues, and architecture using light gray tones.
step 04
Add the peacock, starting with the body and then the tail feathers, using layers of blues, greens, and browns.
step 05
Paint the figure, paying attention to the folds of the dress and the subtle skin tones.
step 06
Refine the details of the fountain, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add details to the garden, including the trees, flowers, and pathways.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for grays, and yellow ochre and burnt umber for earth tones.

techniques