plate no. 5721
Shepherd with herds
Filippo Palizzi, 1883
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic animal forms. It also provides practice in creating a balanced composition with multiple elements.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mountains, figures, and animals.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall perspective of the landscape.
- step 03
Block in the main color masses for the sky, mountains, and foreground.
- step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the mountains, creating depth with atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Add details to the figures and animals, paying attention to their anatomy and proportions.
- step 06
Develop the textures of the grass, rocks, and animal fur using various brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create a sense of form and volume.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · raw sienna
Mix blues and whites for the sky, varying the proportions to create subtle gradations. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the earth tones, adjusting the mixture to achieve different values. Mix greens from blues and yellows for the foliage.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective.
- →Making the animal forms too stiff or unrealistic.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, sap green, cadmium yellow, raw sienna)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·medium (e.g. Liquin)
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned ground to unify the colors.
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