plate no. 1606

When the West with Evening Glows

Joseph Farquharson, 1910

oilRealismanimal paintingsheepsnowtreessunsetlandscapefield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create a sense of depth and realism. It also provides practice in rendering animal forms and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the placement of the trees, and the general positions of the sheep.
step 02
Establish the sky colors with broad strokes, blending the reds, oranges, and yellows to create a gradient effect.
step 03
Block in the dark mass of the trees, paying attention to the shapes and spaces between the branches.
step 04
Begin to define the snow-covered field, using light and shadow to create the undulating terrain.
step 05
Add the sheep, starting with the larger ones in the foreground and gradually decreasing their size as they recede into the distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees, adding individual branches and twigs.
step 07
Add highlights to the sheep to give them form and texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix white with yellow ochre and a touch of red for the warm highlights on the snow and sheep. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the dark tones of the trees. Add small amounts of red to the sky colors to create the sunset glow.

techniques