plate no. 0367

Ice in the River

Ernest Lawson, 1907

oil, canvas, woodImpressionismlandscaperivertreesbuildingsskyboatlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create texture and capturing the subtle nuances of light in a winter landscape. It also provides practice in depicting reflections in water using broken brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, trees, and buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted blues and yellows.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the landscape with broad strokes of color, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create the texture of the ice, water, and foliage, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details to the trees and buildings, focusing on their shapes and forms.
step 06
Paint the boat and its reflection, using darker values to create contrast.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red light · raw sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use a limited palette to create harmony.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the winter landscape.
→Neglecting the importance of value contrast in creating depth.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.