plate no. 9942

White Gums

oilRealismlandscapetreessheeplandscapeskygrasshills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering transparent washes and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in depicting organic forms and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: trees, horizon line, and placement of the sheep.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue and violet for the sky, leaving some areas white for clouds.
step 03
Paint the distant hills with a very diluted mix of brown and blue to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Begin layering washes for the trees, using light browns, yellows, and grays to build up the bark texture and form.
step 05
Add shadows to the trees using a slightly darker mix of the same colors.
step 06
Paint the foreground grass and ground with washes of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and raw umber.
step 07
Add details to the sheep using a mix of gray and brown, suggesting their form with minimal detail.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the trees and foreground to enhance the sense of depth and texture.