plate no. 0662
Returning From Pasture
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic animal forms with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in creating depth and texture in a landscape.
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 cows and the path.
- step 02
Establish the sky and distant background with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and foliage, paying attention to value differences.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the cows, focusing on their anatomy and proportions.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the grass and foliage with broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and form.
- step 07
Add final details, such as highlights and small details in the foreground.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix various shades of brown and green by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, and ultramarine blue. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create highlights.
techniques
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the principles of atmospheric perspective.
- →Making the colors too saturated and unrealistic.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time of the oil paints.
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