plate no. 4112

House of the Singing Winds

T. C. Steele, 1922

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapesnowtreeshouselandscapewintersky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the subtle color variations in snow and shadows. It also provides practice in depicting bare trees and architectural forms with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the house, and the placement of the trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of blue and white, blending the colors softly.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the snow-covered ground, using a mix of white, blue, and violet.
step 04
Paint the house using a base of red, adding darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 05
Add the trees, starting with the trunks and branches, and then adding the foliage with short, broken strokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the snow, paying attention to the shadows and highlights.
step 07
Add the final touches, such as the details of the house and the branches of the trees.
step 08
Let dry and add a varnish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · violet · raw umber

Mix white with blue and a touch of violet for the snow. Create the red of the house by mixing alizarin crimson and burnt sienna. Achieve the tree colors by mixing burnt sienna, raw umber, and touches of yellow ochre.

techniques