plate no. 4570

A winter landscape with figures skating on a frozen river

oil, canvasBaroquelandscapewinterlandscapefiguresicebuildingssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering convincing reflections on ice. It also provides practice in depicting figures in motion and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, figures, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending the warm and cool tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and landscape with thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their gestures.
step 06
Create the ice surface with horizontal strokes, varying the color and value to suggest reflections.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the snow and ice to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Refine the details and add finishing touches, such as the bare trees and distant buildings.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and using white to create subtle variations in value. Use thin washes of color for the sky and distant areas.

techniques