plate no. 1126

Icebound Brook (aka Winter's Mantle)

Willard Metcalf, 1922

oilImpressionismlandscapesnowtreesbrooklandscapewinterbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for snow and water, and layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle color variations in a winter landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the brook, trees, and distant buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, allowing for subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Block in the large areas of snow, using a mix of white, blue, and subtle hints of yellow and pink.
step 04
Define the dark areas of the brook with a mix of blues, greens, and browns, varying the values to create depth.
step 05
Add the trees, starting with the darker trunks and branches, and then layering lighter tones to suggest snow on the branches.
step 06
Paint the distant buildings with muted colors, focusing on their basic shapes and placement.
step 07
Add details to the snow, such as shadows and subtle color variations, to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a harmonious and balanced painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · sap green · alizarin crimson

Achieve the snow color by mixing white with small amounts of blue, yellow ochre, and alizarin crimson. The brook's color is achieved by mixing blues, greens, and browns, varying the proportions to create depth and shadow.

techniques