plate no. 3377

The Sun Had Closed the Winter's Day

Joseph Farquharson, 1904

oilRealismanimal paintingsheepsnowtreeslandscapewinterpath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures of snow and wool, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the path and placement of the sheep.
step 02
Establish the sky with a gradient of yellows and oranges, blending smoothly.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the trees, paying attention to their shapes and overlapping branches.
step 04
Apply the base color for the snow, noting the subtle variations in tone.
step 05
Begin adding details to the sheep, focusing on their form and the texture of their wool.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Add the final touches to the snow, including shadows and highlights to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust values.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange · raw sienna

Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the various tones of snow. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark tones of the trees.

techniques