plate no. 9070

A Winter River Landscape with Figures on the Ice

oilBaroquelandscapewinterlandscapefiguresicebuildingstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a landscape. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and distance through variations in color and detail.

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 horizon line, buildings, and main groups of figures.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light, blended wash of pale blue and grey.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings and the dark mass of the tree in the foreground.
step 04
Begin to define the ice surface with horizontal strokes, varying the tones to suggest depth and reflections.
step 05
Add the figures, starting with the larger groups and gradually adding smaller details.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, including the thatched roofs and window openings.
step 07
Add the bare branches of the trees, using a fine brush and thin paint.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of atmospheric perspective, with cooler and lighter tones in the distance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of grey and brown by combining raw umber, white, and a touch of blue or black. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm highlights on the buildings and figures.

techniques