plate no. 5706

Sad winter

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguresheeplandscapehillsskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in a landscape and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective and color temperature changes. It also provides practice in capturing textures of foliage and sheep's wool with varied brushstrokes.

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 figure, sheep, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the sky, hills, figure's clothing, and sheep.
step 04
Develop the details of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face and hands.
step 05
Add details to the sheep, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of their wool.
step 06
Refine the landscape, adding details to the foliage and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue or ivory black to cool down the colors. Use cadmium red to create the red cloak, muted with burnt umber to make it less vibrant.

techniques

·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated or bright.
→Ignoring the principles of atmospheric perspective.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags