plate no. 5548

Signaling the Main Command

oilImpressionismgenre paintinghorsesfigureslandscapeskyflagmilitary

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures and horses in a landscape setting, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering details with watercolor washes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures, horses, and landscape elements, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre and raw sienna to the sky and background landscape.
step 03
Establish the basic colors for the horses and figures using thin washes of burnt umber, raw umber, and ultramarine blue.
step 04
Build up the values gradually, adding layers of color to create depth and form.
step 05
Define the details of the figures' clothing, equipment, and facial features using smaller brushes and more concentrated pigments.
step 06
Paint the flag with careful attention to its colors and folds.
step 07
Add subtle highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the scene.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black · titanium white

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, raw umber, ultramarine blue, and small amounts of black and white. Use diluted washes of yellow ochre and raw sienna for the sky and background.

techniques