plate no. 4568

When Icicles Hang by the Wall, and Dick the Shepherd Blows His Nail

oilRomanticismportraitboydogwallwintersnowshepherd

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly rendering skin tones and fabric textures, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in a winter landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the boy, the dog, the wall, and the background elements.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for each area, focusing on the overall values.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones of the boy, paying attention to subtle color variations in the face and hands.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, using thin washes to create the folds and textures.
step 05
Paint the dog, focusing on capturing the texture of its fur with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the stone wall, using a variety of grays and browns to create depth and texture.
step 07
Paint the background landscape, using lighter values and softer edges to create a sense of distance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Umber

secondary · Cadmium Red Light · Raw Sienna · Payne's Gray

Mix various shades of gray and blue for the boy's clothing and the stone wall. Use red and yellow to create the skin tones, and add white to lighten the values.

techniques