plate no. 5448

March in the Birch Woods

Clarence Gagnon, 1919

oilImpressionismlandscapetreessnowhorsefigureforestwinter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing the texture of tree bark and snow. It also provides practice in depicting figures and animals within a landscape.

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 trees, figure, and horse.
step 02
Establish the background sky and distant trees with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin layering the birch trees, paying attention to the variations in color and tone.
step 04
Block in the general shapes and colors of the figure and horse.
step 05
Add details to the trees, including the bark patterns and branches.
step 06
Refine the figure and horse, adding details to their forms and clothing/harness.
step 07
Paint the snow, capturing the shadows and highlights.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · raw umber · sap green

Mix white with small amounts of blue and sienna to create the cool tones of the snow and birch bark. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the trees and horse.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the trees, resulting in a cluttered appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the snow.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, causing the background to appear too sharp.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure and horse.