plate no. 2273

Harlem Valley, Winter

Ernest Lawson, 1921

oil, canvas, panelImpressionismlandscapelandscapewintertreessnowbuildingshills

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as capturing the subtle nuances of a winter landscape. It also provides practice in rendering bare trees and distant architectural elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, hills, and placement of major elements like trees and buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light gray and blue.
step 03
Block in the distant hills with muted blues, greens, and grays, focusing on creating a sense of depth.
step 04
Apply the base color for the snow-covered ground using a mix of white, yellow, and blue.
step 05
Add layers of color to the snow, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and variation.
step 06
Paint the tree trunks and branches with thin lines of dark brown and gray.
step 07
Add details to the buildings, keeping them simple and slightly blurred to maintain the atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Refine the foreground details, adding highlights and shadows to the rocks and snow.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · raw umber

secondary · viridian green · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the snowy whites by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre, blue, and raw umber. Create the muted greens and blues for the hills by blending blue, yellow, and umber.

techniques