plate no. 2276
The Howard Townsed Family Taking a Break from a Highland Shoot
Francis Davis Millet, 1900
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex textures like heather. It also provides practice in painting figures and animals in a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the hill, figures, and horses.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and whites, creating soft cloud shapes.
- step 03
Establish the overall color of the hillside with a base layer of green and brown.
- step 04
Begin adding the heather using short, broken strokes of purple, pink, and green.
- step 05
Paint the figures and horses, paying attention to their proportions and details.
- step 06
Add details to the rocks and foliage, varying the colors and textures.
- step 07
Refine the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · alizarin crimson
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · cadmium red light · violet
Mix various shades of green by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and white. Achieve the heather colors by mixing alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, and white. Use burnt umber and white for earth tones.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering textures
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the heather, resulting in a flat, uniform texture.
- →Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and distance.
- →Inaccurate proportions of figures and horses.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the colors and create depth.
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