plate no. 3773

First Snow

Ivan Marchuk, 1986

oilMagic Realismlandscapelandscapesnowtreeswaterhousewinter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering complex organic forms like bare trees and snow-covered ground.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the river, the snow-covered mounds, and the general placement of the trees and house.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray wash.
step 03
Establish the dark tones of the river and the tree trunks using a dark brown or gray.
step 04
Begin layering the snow-covered areas with a base of light brown or beige.
step 05
Add texture to the snow by using short, broken brushstrokes with white and light pink.
step 06
Paint the bare branches of the trees, paying attention to their intricate network and varying thickness.
step 07
Add the suggestion of the house in the background with muted colors.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · payne's gray

secondary · raw sienna · light pink · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, umber, and a touch of blue. Create the snow color by mixing white with small amounts of raw sienna and light pink.

techniques

·dry brushing
·layering
·scumbling
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Making the snow too uniformly white, neglecting the subtle color variations.
→Failing to create depth by not varying the values and colors of the trees and snow in the background.
→Creating branches that are too uniform in thickness.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·rags

Use a medium-textured canvas to help create the desired texture. Acrylics are faster drying and easier to clean, while oils offer richer colors and blending capabilities.

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