plate no. 3477

A Village Street in Winter

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapesnowbuildingsstreettreesfiguresky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in snow and winter light. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the street and the placement of the buildings.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint, paying attention to the warm and cool tones.
step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the buildings and the snow-covered ground, using simplified forms.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and rooflines, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the texture of the snow with varying brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
step 06
Paint the figure in the distance, paying attention to its proportion and placement.
step 07
Add the bare tree branches, using a fine brush and delicate strokes.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and blue to create the various shades of snow. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre for the buildings, and a touch of crimson for the sky.

techniques