plate no. 6005
After a snowfall in Naples
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing atmospheric perspective and using brushstrokes to suggest texture and movement. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural details.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building, tree, and street.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral gray.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the building's form and windows.
- step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to create the texture of the snow-covered street.
- step 05
Paint the tree trunk and branches, varying the thickness of the lines to suggest depth.
- step 06
Add highlights to the snow and building to create a sense of light.
- step 07
Refine the details of the building and street, paying attention to perspective.
- step 08
Add final touches to the tree branches and foreground details.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre
Achieve the various shades of gray by mixing black and white in different proportions. Add small amounts of raw umber or yellow ochre to warm up the grays.
techniques
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·value blocking
- ·directional brushstrokes
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details, losing the overall impressionistic feel.
- →Creating too much contrast, resulting in a harsh, unrealistic image.
- →Ignoring the perspective of the building and street.
- →Making the tree appear flat and two-dimensional.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
Use a medium-grit canvas to allow for texture. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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