plate no. 2632

A Day in March

Robert Spencer, 1918

oilImpressionismgenre paintingbuildingstreesfiguresskyriverchimneys

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing the effects of light on different surfaces. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: buildings, trees, and the general placement of figures.
step 02
Establish the sky with thin washes of blue and white, allowing some brushstrokes to show.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings using a mix of warm and cool grays, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add the red roofs and chimneys, varying the intensity of the red with browns and oranges.
step 05
Paint the trees with thin, gestural strokes, using browns and grays. Focus on capturing the delicate branches.
step 06
Block in the figures with simplified shapes and colors, suggesting details without overworking them.
step 07
Add the ground and water, using greens, browns, and grays to create a sense of depth and texture.
step 08
Refine the details, such as the windows, doors, and the texture of the buildings, using small brushstrokes.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the building colors by mixing white with raw umber and small amounts of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Vary the ratios to create subtle shifts in tone.

techniques