plate no. 9794

The Prized Puppy

Heywood Hardy, 1906

oilRomanticismgenre paintingfigureshorsesdogsbuildinglandscapetrees

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic figures and animals, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and creating depth through color and value changes. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fur, fabric, and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background with broad washes of color, focusing on the sky, trees, and distant landscape.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the building, horses, and figures, using a limited palette of earth tones and neutrals.
step 04
Start refining the details of the figures and animals, paying attention to anatomy and creating realistic forms.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, using glazing techniques to build up layers of color.
step 06
Work on the details of the faces, clothing, and accessories, using small brushes to create fine lines and textures.
step 07
Add the final details of the foliage, grass, and other elements of the landscape, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and interest.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust the overall color harmony.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the horse's coat by mixing burnt umber with raw sienna and a touch of black for shadows, and adding white for highlights. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the sky and distant trees, adding white to lighten the values.

techniques