plate no. 9142

Dag I Mars

oilRealismlandscapetreessnowlandscapebuildingswinterfield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use color temperature to depict light and shadow in snow, and how to create texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, buildings, and snow drifts.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and background fields.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shadows in the snow and on the buildings.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension in the snow, using blues, purples, and yellows.
step 05
Paint the trees, focusing on capturing their form and texture with expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the buildings and fence, paying attention to their shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · violet · sap green

Mix white with small amounts of blue and violet to create the cool tones in the snow. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm tones in the buildings and trees. Add small amounts of red to create the red buildings.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·color layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, which can flatten the image.
→Using too much white, which can make the snow look chalky.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow.
→Getting lost in the details and losing the overall impression.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·titanium white oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·cadmium red oil paint
·round brushes #4, #6, #8
·palette knife

optional

·linseed oil
·turpentine
·medium gloss

Use a canvas with a medium texture to help create the impressionistic brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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