plate no. 7529

Hunters in the Snow

oil, panelNorthern Renaissancegenre paintingwinter landscapehunterssnowvillagefigurestrees

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering complex scenes with many small details. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and distance through careful value and color choices.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the main compositional elements: the foreground hill, the middle ground village, and the background mountains.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin, even layer of pale blue-gray paint.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes of the mountains and hills, paying attention to their relative values and colors.
step 04
Paint the large shapes of the trees in the foreground, focusing on their branching patterns.
step 05
Add the buildings and figures in the middle ground, simplifying their forms and using smaller brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the details in the foreground, including the hunters, dogs, and snow-covered ground.
step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add the final details, such as the birds in the sky and the small figures on the ice.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of gray and brown for the trees, buildings, and snow. Use ultramarine blue and white to create the cool tones of the distant mountains and sky. Add a touch of burnt sienna to warm up the foreground colors.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·rendering small details

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early, before establishing the overall composition and values.
→Making the colors too saturated, which will detract from the muted, wintery atmosphere.
→Failing to create a strong sense of depth and distance.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value within the snow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (small round, medium flat, large filbert)
·palette knife
·rags