plate no. 5366

Houses, Cobalt

Franklin Carmichael, 1932

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapehousessnowlandscapehillvillagewinter

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning about simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and atmospheric landscape. Students will practice creating depth through layering and value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the hills and houses, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the general placement of the village on the hill.
step 03
Block in the large areas of snow with a light, cool gray.
step 04
Add the darker values to define the shadows on the snow and the shapes of the houses.
step 05
Introduce the warmer tones for the houses and windows, keeping them muted.
step 06
Refine the details of the houses, such as chimneys and windows, using darker values.
step 07
Add subtle variations in the sky color to create depth.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the values and colors.

color palette

primary · titanium white · payne's gray · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Mix white with a touch of Payne's gray for the snow shadows. Use yellow ochre with a touch of burnt umber for the houses. Mix ultramarine blue with white for the sky.

techniques