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home·artworks·Taureau Dans Les Alpes
Taureau Dans Les Alpes by Eugène Burnand

plate no. 5278

Taureau Dans Les Alpes

Eugène Burnand

oilRealismanimal paintingbullmountainslandscapeskygrass
experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures using hatching and cross-hatching techniques, and understanding how to depict form and volume with limited tonal range.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the bull and the major mountain ranges.

  2. step 02

    Begin adding details to the bull, using short, curved lines to define its musculature and coat patterns.

  3. step 03

    Start rendering the mountains with hatching and cross-hatching, varying the density of lines to create different values and textures.

  4. step 04

    Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to suggest the form of the mountains and the direction of light.

  5. step 05

    Add details to the foreground, including the grass and rocks, using similar hatching techniques.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details throughout the painting, adding more layers of hatching to deepen the shadows and create a greater sense of depth.

  7. step 07

    Pay attention to the contrast between light and dark areas to create a sense of drama and realism.

  8. step 08

    Add the final details and touch-ups to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Varying the density of black lines on a white surface creates shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·Hatching
  • ·Cross-hatching
  • ·Stippling
  • ·Line weight variation
  • ·Dry brush

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking areas and losing the freshness of the linework
  • →Creating uniform hatching patterns that lack variation and interest
  • →Failing to establish a clear light source and consistent values
  • →Ignoring the underlying structure and form of the subject matter

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Drawing paper
  • ·Ruler
  • ·Sharpener
  • ·Fine liner pens

optional

  • ·Kneaded eraser
  • ·Blending stump
  • ·Tracing paper

Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve different values and textures. Experiment with different hatching patterns to find what works best for you.

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oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
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