8871 Barnyard Cow
Jerry Yarnell – Inspiration of Painting PBS Television Educational Art Series

A quiet barnyard scene captures a lone cow standing behind a rustic fence, with an old weathered barn fading into a soft, misty background that gives the painting a calm, rural atmosphere. In this beginner level acrylic painting lesson, Jerry guides you step-by-step through creating this peaceful countryside scene in a 63 minute session on an 18x24 canvas, combining simple composition with subtle mood and depth.

You’ll learn how to construct and paint the cow using basic shapes and layered brushwork to create believable form and natural proportions. Jerry demonstrates how to block in the subject first, then refine details such as facial features, body structure, and color variation to bring the animal to life.

The lesson also focuses on creating soft atmospheric backgrounds, using gentle blending and muted tones to push the barn and surrounding elements into the distance. You’ll explore how to paint fences, ground textures, and subtle details that enhance the rural setting without overwhelming the main subject.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll gain confidence in painting farm animals, handling soft edges and atmosphere, and creating depth through layering and value control. This is an excellent project for beginners looking to expand their skills while producing a quiet and visually engaging barnyard scene.