plate no. 1251

Blauer Wintertag mit Schienerberg

Adolf Dietrich, 1940

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)landscapelakesnowhillstreesskywinter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to mix subtle variations of color to represent snow and water. It also offers practice in rendering bare tree branches.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the hills, lake, and foreground snow.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually lightening towards the horizon.
step 03
Paint the distant hills with a muted blue-gray, adding subtle variations to suggest snow cover.
step 04
Establish the base color of the lake, a cool blue-gray, and add horizontal strokes to suggest reflections.
step 05
Block in the foreground snow with white mixed with blues and purples to create shadows and depth.
step 06
Add details to the snow, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
step 07
Paint the bare tree branches with thin lines, paying attention to their delicate structure.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to refine the details and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · violet · yellow ochre

Mix blues with white and a touch of violet for the sky and lake. Use raw umber and white with a touch of blue for the distant hills and shadows in the snow. Yellow ochre can be used to warm up the highlights.

techniques