plate no. 0679
The Ox
Joseph Stella, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice smooth blending techniques and understand how subtle value changes can create form. It also offers a chance to explore simplified landscape painting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the ox head and the landscape, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, creating a subtle gradient.
- step 03
Begin layering the white on the ox, using slightly different shades of white mixed with blue and gray to create form and shadow.
- step 04
Paint the dark details of the eye, nose, and horns.
- step 05
Block in the basic colors of the landscape: browns, greens, and blues.
- step 06
Add details to the landscape, such as the winding river and fields, using smaller brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the blending and details on the ox head, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to both the ox and the landscape.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · ivory black
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create subtle shades for the ox. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create earth tones for the landscape. Mix blue and yellow for the greens.
techniques
- ·smooth blending
- ·value shading
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·simplified forms
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Not paying close enough attention to the subtle value changes on the ox.
- →Making the landscape too detailed and distracting from the main subject.
- →Incorrect proportions of the ox head.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20)
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·sap green oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will aid in blending.
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