plate no. 7232

Infantry at Nijmegen

oilExpressionismhistory paintingsoldierssnowlandscapefiguresroadsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting perspective and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective and diminishing size. It also provides practice in rendering realistic figures and clothing with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the road and the diminishing size of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: sky, snow, and the figures' uniforms, using thin washes.
step 03
Start adding details to the foreground figure, focusing on accurate proportions and values.
step 04
Develop the figures in the middle ground, simplifying details and using cooler tones to suggest distance.
step 05
Create the texture of the snow using short, broken brushstrokes and varying values of white and brown.
step 06
Refine the sky and add the moon, paying attention to soft edges and subtle color variations.
step 07
Add final details, such as the soldiers' weapons and equipment, using a fine brush.
step 08
Glaze with thin washes to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · payne's gray

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, payne's gray, and titanium white. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt sienna to warm up the colors. Use sap green sparingly to create subtle variations in the uniforms.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·dry brushing
·glazing
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Getting the perspective of the road wrong, which will flatten the composition.
→Overworking the details in the background figures, which will make them appear too prominent.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which will detract from the muted, somber mood.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the snow and the figures, which will make them blend together.