plate no. 9800
The Fall Of The Cowboy
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and creating a sense of atmosphere through subtle color variations and brushwork. It also provides practice in rendering realistic textures, such as snow and wood.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, horses, and fence.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights of the sky, snow, and figures.
- step 03
Begin refining the shapes of the figures and horses, paying attention to anatomical accuracy.
- step 04
Mix and apply the local colors of the figures, horses, and landscape, using a limited palette.
- step 05
Add details to the figures and horses, such as facial features, clothing, and tack.
- step 06
Create the texture of the snow by using broken brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
- step 07
Refine the fence and other details in the background.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · raw sienna
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix white with small amounts of umber and blue to create the cool tones of the snow and sky. Use ochre and umber to create the warm tones of the horses and figures. Vary the proportions to achieve subtle color variations.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·limited palette
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·grisaille underpainting
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, raw sienna, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
Use a canvas with a medium texture to allow for easier blending and layering. Consider using a toned canvas to establish a base color.
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