plate no. 1379

Abbey Church in Winter. (St. Michaelis in Bautzen?)

oil, laid paper, cardRomanticismlandscapechurchsnowwinterskyfiguresbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures of stone and snow. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and capturing the mood of a winter landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the church, buildings, and landscape, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral tones, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 03
Begin building up the sky with layers of blended grays and blues, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 04
Develop the church and buildings, adding details and texture to the stone and snow.
step 05
Paint the snow-covered ground, varying the tones and textures to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 06
Add the figures and other details in the foreground, paying attention to their scale and placement.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, umber, and a touch of blue. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to add warmth to the buildings and snow in areas where the light hits.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·glazing
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and texture in the snow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, Prussian blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags