plate no. 6038

The Dead Heat for the Doncaster Great St. Leger Stakes Between 'Charles Xii' and 'Euclid'

oilRomanticismgenre paintinghorsesfiguresbuildingskyracecrowd

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting motion and perspective, as well as understanding how to create depth through atmospheric perspective and color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, the horizon line, and the general arrangement of the horses.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light, blended wash of pink and white, creating a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings using a mix of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, paying attention to the perspective.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, including the architectural elements and the figures in the stands, using smaller brushes.
step 05
Begin painting the horses, starting with the darkest tones and gradually adding highlights to create form and dimension.
step 06
Focus on capturing the dynamic poses of the horses and the jockeys, using quick, expressive brushstrokes to convey movement.
step 07
Add the crowd in the background with simplified shapes and colors, creating a sense of depth and scale.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as highlights on the horses and subtle variations in the sky and grass.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · raw umber

Mix yellow ochre with burnt sienna and white for the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for cooler sky tones. Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the horses' coats.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·layering
·linear perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the background, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to capture the sense of motion in the horses.
→Incorrect perspective in the buildings.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can make the painting look unrealistic.