plate no. 9375

Early Snow

Chang Dai-chien, 1965

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapesnowwaterskyabstracttrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering washes and creating atmospheric perspective. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing and blending to achieve subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch a loose outline of the major shapes and areas of the composition.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre across the top portion of the canvas for the sky.
step 03
Begin layering washes of diluted blues and greens for the water and land areas, allowing colors to blend and bleed into each other.
step 04
Add darker values of blue and green to create depth and shadows, focusing on the lower portion of the painting.
step 05
Introduce small amounts of white and gold to suggest snow and highlights.
step 06
Use a dry brush technique to create texture in the land area.
step 07
Add final details such as the red tree-like shapes in the foreground.
step 08
Allow to dry completely and add final glazes if desired to adjust values and colors.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · viridian green · yellow ochre

secondary · titanium white · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix blues and greens with white to create lighter, more muted tones for the snow and water. Use yellow ochre to create a warm, atmospheric effect in the sky.

techniques