plate no. 9572
The Return of the Flock, Laren
Anton Mauve, 1887
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering texture with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the flock.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the sky with a light gray, blending it softly towards the horizon.
- step 04
Begin layering the field with darker browns and greens, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 05
Add the sheep, starting with the larger shapes and gradually adding details.
- step 06
Use a dry brush technique to create the woolly texture of the sheep.
- step 07
Introduce highlights on the sheep and in the field to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of atmospheric perspective.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · payne's gray
Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with small amounts of secondary colors. Use white to lighten the values and create highlights.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·value layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure early on.
- →Making the sheep too uniform in shape and size.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the dry brush effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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