plate no. 9340
Sheep on the Downs
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures, especially wool, and in creating atmospheric perspective to depict depth in a landscape. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle variations of light and shadow on forms.
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 sheep and the horizon line.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, distant hills, foreground, and the sheep's bodies.
- step 03
Establish the light source and begin to define the shadows and highlights on the sheep.
- step 04
Add details to the landscape, including trees, foliage, and the distant buildings.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the sheep's wool using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the details of the sheep's faces and legs.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow · ivory black
Achieve the wool color by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding more blue to distant colors.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Making the sheep's wool look too uniform and flat.
- →Not creating enough depth in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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