plate no. 9275

Mill Scene

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebuildingswatersnowwinterlandscapemill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering textures like brick and snow, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective and color mixing for a winter scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes of the buildings, water, and horizon line.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, water, and buildings using thin washes.
step 03
Start building up the brick texture on the buildings using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Add the snow details, paying attention to the way it sits on the roofs and ledges.
step 05
Develop the water, capturing the reflections and the movement of the waterfall.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees and other background elements.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · payne's gray

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for the dark tones in the water and buildings. Use titanium white to lighten colors and create the snow effect. Add yellow ochre to burnt sienna for warmer brick tones.

techniques

·broken brushstrokes
·scumbling
·glazing
·wet-on-dry blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of a winter scene.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough to create texture.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, raw umber, payne's gray)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags