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home·artworks·Day in Winte
Day in Winte by Xavier Mellery

plate no. 5707

Day in Winte

Xavier Mellery

oilSymbolismgenre paintingfiguresnowtreesbuildingwinterlandscape
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering textures with visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in capturing a mood with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building, figure, and trees.

  2. step 02

    Establish the sky and distant trees with thin washes of gray and brown.

  3. step 03

    Block in the building and wall with darker browns, leaving areas for highlights.

  4. step 04

    Paint the snow-covered ground with cool grays and blues, indicating shadows and footprints.

  5. step 05

    Add the figure in black, paying attention to the folds of the cloak.

  6. step 06

    Paint the bare trees with thin, dark lines, adding subtle details to the branches.

  7. step 07

    Refine the details of the building and wall, adding texture and highlights.

  8. step 08

    Add final touches to the snow and sky to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, black, and a touch of blue or brown. Use burnt sienna to warm up the browns for the building and wall.

techniques

  • ·dry brush texture
  • ·atmospheric perspective
  • ·scumbling
  • ·limited palette
  • ·layering

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the details
  • →Using too much color
  • →Ignoring the subtle value shifts
  • →Making the figure too dominant

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas
  • ·raw umber oil paint
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·ivory black oil paint
  • ·round brushes (various sizes)
  • ·palette knife
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·palette

optional

  • ·burnt sienna oil paint
  • ·ultramarine blue oil paint
  • ·painting medium

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushwork. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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related guides

oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
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