plate no. 2867
Evening Snow, Coniston
Norman Ackroyd, 1999
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth using tonal values. It also provides practice in achieving texture with dry brush techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare the canvas with a thin, light gray wash.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and water line.
- step 03
Apply a darker value of gray to the lower portion of the canvas for the water and foreground.
- step 04
Gradually build up the mountain range using varying shades of gray, creating a sense of depth.
- step 05
Use a lighter gray to suggest the sky and the light source.
- step 06
Employ dry brush techniques to create texture and the appearance of snow.
- step 07
Add small white speckles to represent falling snow or reflections on the water.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · payne's gray
Mix varying values of gray by combining black and white in different ratios. Add a touch of Payne's Gray to create cooler grays.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·tonal layering
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the atmospheric effect.
- →Creating too much contrast too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint, which can flatten the texture.
- →Neglecting the subtle value shifts that create depth.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·payne's gray oil paint
- ·assorted round brushes
- ·assorted flat brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a canvas with a slightly textured surface to enhance the dry brush effect. Consider using a fast-drying medium to speed up the drying time between layers.
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