plate no. 5642
Frozen Lake, Early Spring, Algonquin Park
A.Y. Jackson, 1914
some experience helpful
This painting is great for practicing layering techniques and capturing the subtle color variations in snow and water. Recreating this will help students understand how to create depth and atmosphere using color and brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main elements: horizon line, tree trunks, and major snow patches.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky/lake, distant mountains, snow, and foreground earth.
- step 03
Establish the basic values and color temperatures in the sky/lake area.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the trees, focusing on their verticality and subtle color variations.
- step 05
Develop the snow areas, paying attention to the shadows and reflected light.
- step 06
Refine the foreground with details of the earth and rocks.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the trees and snow.
- step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber
Mix blues and whites with a touch of yellow ochre for the sky and lake. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the tree trunks. Mix blues, whites, and reds for the snow shadows.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the snow and losing the subtle color variations.
- →Making the tree trunks too uniform and lacking depth.
- →Ignoring the reflected light in the shadows.
- →Creating mud by overmixing colors.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for better texture.
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