plate no. 4965

Sheep Pasture, Cornish, New Hampshire

Maxfield Parrish, 1936

oilRomanticismlandscapelandscapehillscloudsskytreespasture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in value studies and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork to suggest form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: horizon line, hills, cloud formations, and foreground elements.
step 02
Establish the sky with a diluted blue wash, leaving areas for the clouds.
step 03
Begin layering values in the background hills, using a lighter, cooler gray.
step 04
Work on the mid-ground pasture, building up values with grays and blacks, leaving some areas white to suggest snow or light.
step 05
Define the foreground elements with the darkest values, using bold brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the trees and rocks, focusing on suggesting texture rather than precise rendering.
step 07
Refine the cloud shapes and add subtle variations in tone.
step 08
Step back and adjust values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · raw umber

Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white. Use more white for lighter values and more black for darker values. Add a touch of blue to grays for cooler tones in the background.

techniques