plate no. 8456

Worked Over

Charles M. Russell, 1925

oilRomanticismgenre paintingcowboyshorsescattlelandscapemountainssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic animal forms within a landscape. It also provides practice in creating depth through layering and color variation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main compositional elements: horizon line, mountains, cowboys/horses, and cattle.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of diluted yellow ochre and a touch of alizarin crimson, blending to create a warm, hazy effect.
step 03
Lay in the base colors for the distant mountains using a mix of blues, purples, and grays, keeping them muted to suggest distance.
step 04
Begin painting the landscape, starting with the furthest areas and working forward, using varied earth tones.
step 05
Add details to the cowboys and horses, paying attention to their anatomy and the fall of light.
step 06
Paint the cattle, varying their colors and poses to create a sense of realism.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, including grasses, shrubs, and the waterhole, using dry brush techniques for texture.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · alizarin crimson · raw umber · titanium white

Mix muted purples for the mountains by combining ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson. Achieve earth tones by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques