plate no. 7358

Zaza, the dog

oil, canvasRococoanimal paintingdogparrottreelandscapefoliagecolumn

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering animal fur and feathers, as well as creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow in a natural setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the dog, parrot, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color, such as the sky, foliage, and ground.
step 03
Begin to refine the details of the background, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective and the subtle variations in color.
step 04
Focus on the dog, building up the layers of fur with short, broken brushstrokes and highlighting the contours of the body.
step 05
Add the parrot, carefully rendering the feathers and capturing the bird's unique personality.
step 06
Refine the details of the tree and column, adding texture and depth to these elements.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red · viridian green

Achieve the subtle greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with white. Create the dog's fur by layering white with touches of yellow ochre and burnt umber.

techniques