plate no. 2958

Milano Vecchia

oil, cardboardImpressionismcityscapecityscapesnowfiguresbuildingshorse-drawn carriagetrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effects of light and shadow on a snowy scene. It also provides practice in depicting figures in motion and suggesting details with loose brushwork.

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 buildings, figures, and carriage.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and figures, paying attention to their relative sizes and proportions.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features.
step 05
Develop the figures, focusing on capturing their gestures and clothing.
step 06
Paint the horse-drawn carriage, paying attention to its form and details.
step 07
Add the snow and reflections on the ground, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of gray by combining white, raw umber, and ultramarine blue. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm tones for the buildings and carriage. Add small amounts of cadmium yellow to brighten the highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima
·implied detail

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated and bright.
→Not paying attention to the relative sizes and proportions of the figures and buildings.