plate no. 4853
Hoosick Falls, New York, in Winter
Grandma Moses, 1944
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in snow and sky.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic layout: mountains, village, river.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays.
- step 03
Paint the distant mountains with muted greens and grays.
- step 04
Establish the snow-covered ground with white, adding shadows with blues and purples.
- step 05
Paint the basic shapes of the houses and buildings.
- step 06
Add details to the houses: windows, doors, roofs.
- step 07
Paint the trees and the train, adding small details.
- step 08
Add figures and other small details to bring the scene to life.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber for snow shadows. Use red and umber for the houses. Mix greens and yellows for the distant hills.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·simplification
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details too early.
- →Making the colors too saturated.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
Acrylics are recommended for faster drying time. Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
