plate no. 8690

Ram's Head, White Hollyhock-Hills

Georgia O'Keeffe, 1935

oil, canvasPrecisionismlandscapeskullhornsflowerhillsskyclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, blending, and creating smooth gradients, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the skull, horns, flower, hills, and clouds, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the sky, hills, and skull with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors on the sky, blending to create soft transitions and cloud formations.
step 04
Develop the colors and values of the hills, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
step 05
Work on the skull, carefully rendering the bone structure and subtle color variations.
step 06
Paint the flower, focusing on its delicate petals and soft light.
step 07
Refine the details and edges of all elements, ensuring a smooth and blended finish.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · raw umber · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue and white for the sky. Use burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson for the hills. Achieve bone color by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber.

techniques