plate no. 1862

Fra Akershus

oilImpressionismlandscapebuildingtreessnowskyfigureswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the subtle color variations in snow and winter light. They will also learn to simplify complex architectural forms and render figures in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building, trees, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light blue and gray.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the building and the wall, paying attention to their perspective.
step 04
Add the dark shapes of the trees, varying the thickness and direction of the branches.
step 05
Lay in the snow-covered ground with cool grays and blues, indicating shadows and highlights.
step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and muted colors.
step 07
Add details to the building, such as windows and architectural features.
step 08
Refine the details of the trees and branches, adding texture and depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and umber. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to warm up the grays for the ground and building. Add a touch of blue to the snow to create cool shadows.

techniques