plate no. 7496

Study: Sheep Pasture at Nauroy

oil, canvasRealismlandscapelandscapesheeppastureanimalsfieldfarmhouse

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and loose, expressive brushwork to depict texture and form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex subjects into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the farmhouse, windmill, and sheep.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale blue and grey, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Establish the general color and value of the distant field and trees, using a muted green and brown.
step 04
Begin blocking in the foreground field with broad strokes of brown, yellow, and green, varying the colors to create texture.
step 05
Add the sheep, focusing on their overall shapes and values rather than individual details.
step 06
Use thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes to define the sheep in the foreground, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details of the farmhouse and windmill, keeping them simple and slightly blurred to maintain atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to the foreground field and sheep, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cerulean blue · sap green · burnt sienna

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre, sap green, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve atmospheric perspective by lightening and greying colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques