plate no. 6453

A Winter Landscape

C. R. W. Nevinson, 1926

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapefieldtreesbirdsskygate

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in depicting a sense of depth and distance in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, noting the horizon line and major shapes of the field, trees, and distant hills.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray, blending the tones to create a cloudy effect.
step 03
Establish the base color of the field with a mix of brown and green, varying the tones to suggest the furrows.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted blues and grays to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Add the trees, using a dry brush technique to create texture and suggest bare branches.
step 06
Paint the flock of birds, varying their size and density to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add details to the foreground, such as the gate and any small plants or debris.
step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · sap green

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix white with raw umber and a touch of blue for the sky. Use varying proportions of raw umber, sap green, and burnt sienna for the field. Mute colors with complementary colors to create a sense of distance.

techniques

·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·broken color
·tonal painting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Making the colors too saturated, which can detract from the somber mood.
→Not varying the size and density of the bird flock, which can make it look unnatural.