plate no. 9721

Whiskey Smugglers Caught with the Goods

Charles M. Russell, 1913

oilRomanticismgenre paintingfigureshorseslandscapemountainsskywestern

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape and capturing the effects of light and shadow on various forms. It also provides practice in rendering textures of grass, rock, and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition, focusing on the placement of figures, horses, and the landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas of the sky, mountains, and foreground with thin washes.
step 03
Establish the basic values and colors of the figures and horses, paying attention to their proportions and poses.
step 04
Develop the landscape by adding details to the mountains, rocks, and vegetation, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Refine the figures and horses, adding details to their clothing, tack, and facial features.
step 06
Pay close attention to the light source and how it affects the colors and values of the scene.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and realistic representation.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · violet · sap green

Mix browns and earth tones by combining burnt sienna, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Achieve the sky's subtle gradients by blending ultramarine blue with white and touches of yellow and violet.

techniques