plate no. 0984

High Bridge. Winter

Ernest Lawson, 1910

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebridgewatertreeswinterbuildingsreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create texture and capturing the subtle color variations in a winter landscape. It also provides practice in rendering reflections in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the bridge, buildings, and trees, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky and water with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin layering paint on the bridge, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, focusing on the play of light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the trees, using a variety of grays and browns to capture their bare branches.
step 06
Create the reflections in the water, using slightly darker and more muted versions of the colors above.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish for protection.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre · sap green

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, raw umber, and a touch of blue or red. Achieve the green hues by mixing yellow ochre and sap green, adjusting the ratio for different shades.

techniques