plate no. 2823

Melting Snow

Vilhelms Purvitis, 1910

oilImpressionismlandscapeicewatertreesskysnowlandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in creating texture with brushstrokes to represent ice and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into sky, trees, and water/ice.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the placement of major elements like the treeline and larger ice floes.
step 03
Block in the sky with light blues and pinks, blending softly.
step 04
Paint the distant treeline with muted blues and browns, creating a sense of depth.
step 05
Add the trees in the mid-ground, using warmer browns and oranges with visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Block in the water with varying shades of blue and gray, paying attention to the reflections of the sky and trees.
step 07
Add the ice floes with white, gray, and blue, using thicker paint and broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Refine details, such as highlights on the ice and subtle color variations in the water.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue

Mix blues and whites for the sky and water, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. Use burnt umber and white for the tree trunks, and mix orange and yellow for the foliage highlights. Achieve the ice color by mixing white with small amounts of blue and gray.

techniques