plate no. 9664
Sheperdess
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in capturing light and atmosphere with loose brushstrokes and limited color palette. Students can learn to simplify forms and suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the field, the trees, and the sky.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue wash, allowing for variations in tone.
- step 03
Establish the basic color of the field using a mix of yellows and browns, varying the tones to create depth.
- step 04
Add the darker masses of the trees and the figure using dark browns and greens.
- step 05
Indicate the sheep with small, broken strokes of white and light brown.
- step 06
Refine the figure's form and add the orange headscarf.
- step 07
Add details to the field with vertical strokes of different yellows and greens to represent grass.
- step 08
Adjust values and colors to create a sense of harmony and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange · sap green
Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the field. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix cadmium orange and yellow ochre for the headscarf. Use white and a touch of burnt umber for the sheep.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the field.
- →Making the figure too stiff and unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (#4, #6, #8)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium (e.g. Liquin)
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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