plate no. 9699

Au Sable River, Winter, Adirondacks

Rockwell Kent, 1960

oilAmerican Realismlandscaperiversnowtreeswinterice floeslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It also provides practice in mixing subtle variations of whites and grays to depict snow and reflections.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the ice floes.
step 02
Establish the dark values of the river using a mix of blues, browns, and blacks.
step 03
Paint the distant trees and snow-covered banks, using lighter values and muted colors to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Add the ice floes, paying attention to the highlights and shadows to give them form.
step 05
Paint the reflections of the trees and ice floes in the water, using vertical strokes and slightly blurred edges.
step 06
Add the details of the foreground snow and bare branches.
step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve the various shades of white by mixing titanium white with small amounts of ultramarine blue, burnt umber, or raw sienna. Use ivory black sparingly to darken values.

techniques