plate no. 6984

West Highland Ponies

oilRomanticismanimal paintinghorseslandscapemountainsskyanimals

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in animal anatomy, color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones, and creating atmospheric perspective in landscapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the horses and the landscape.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, mountains, and ground.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the horses, paying attention to muscle structure and highlights.
step 05
Add details to the landscape, such as rocks and vegetation.
step 06
Refine the details of the horses' faces and manes.
step 07
Add the basket on the white horse.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix burnt umber and white for the gray horse. Use raw sienna and burnt umber for the brown horses, adding white for highlights. Mix ultramarine blue and white for the sky.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the horses.
→Muddy or unrealistic skin tones.
→Lack of depth in the landscape.
→Overworking the details.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue)
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·palette knife