plate no. 4540
Yon Yellow Sunset Dying in the West
experienced study
This painting would teach students atmospheric perspective, warm/cool color temperature relationships, and how to paint convincing animal forms in a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Block in the basic composition with light sketching, establishing horizon line and major shapes
- step 02
Lay in the sky with warm sunset colors, working wet-on-wet from light to dark
- step 03
Paint the distant landscape elements with cooler, lighter tones for atmospheric perspective
- step 04
Establish the middle ground trees and rocks with warmer earth tones
- step 05
Block in the sheep shapes as simple light forms against the darker ground
- step 06
Add details to the foreground sheep, focusing on light and shadow
- step 07
Refine the tree foliage with varied greens and warm highlights
- step 08
Add final details and adjust overall color harmony
color palette
primary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium orange · yellow ochre · sap green · ultramarine blue
Mix warm grays for sheep using white with tiny amounts of burnt sienna and ultramarine; create sunset glow by mixing cadmium yellow with small amounts of cadmium orange
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·warm/cool color temperature
- ·glazing for depth
- ·scumbling for texture
- ·animal form rendering
common pitfalls
- →making sheep too white without shadows
- →losing atmospheric perspective in distance
- →overworking fine details too early
- →making sky colors too intense
materials
surface · stretched canvas primed with gesso
required
- ·oil paints in listed colors
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#2 detail brush
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·linseed oil medium
optional
- ·fan brush for foliage texture
- ·#10 flat brush for sky
- ·painting medium for glazing
- ·soft blending brush
Oil paint recommended for the extended working time needed for atmospheric blending and detailed animal work
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