plate no. 2630

Sheep on a dyke

oilRealismanimal paintingsheeplandscapegrassskyriveranimals

some experience helpful

This painting provides a good exercise in depicting texture using brushstrokes and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. Students will learn to simplify complex forms and capture the essence of a scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the horizon line and the placement of the hill and river.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, muted color, blending it slightly towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the hill and the riverbank, using darker greens and browns for the foreground and lighter, cooler tones for the background.
step 04
Begin adding the sheep, focusing on their overall shapes and positions rather than individual details.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the sheep's wool and the grass.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, such as individual blades of grass and small rocks.
step 07
Refine the shapes and values of the sheep, adding highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the shepherd figure and the birds in the sky.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · sap green · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the muted sky by mixing titanium white with a small amount of ultramarine blue and burnt umber.

techniques

·dry brush
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the sheep, resulting in a stiff and unnatural appearance.
→Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image and reduce the sense of depth.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the overall mood of the painting.