plate no. 2595

A Winter's Morning

oilRealismlandscapesnowtreesbuildingsskylandscapecrows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in snow and sky, as well as practice rendering realistic textures of trees and buildings in a winter scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the placement of buildings, trees, and the road.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of yellows and oranges, blending smoothly.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the trees and their branches, paying attention to their structure.
step 04
Apply the base color for the snow, a mix of white with hints of blue, pink, and yellow.
step 05
Add shadows and highlights to the snow to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Paint the buildings with muted colors, adding details like snow-covered roofs and wooden textures.
step 07
Add details like the fence, crows, and reflections in the water.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust values to create a cohesive and realistic winter scene.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium orange · alizarin crimson

Achieve the snow colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, pink, and yellow. Create the sky gradient by blending yellow ochre, cadmium orange, and a touch of alizarin crimson.

techniques