plate no. 5648

Misty Day in March

Ernest Lawson, 1912

oilImpressionismlandscaperivertreesbuildingslandscapereflectionssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impressionistic brushwork and capturing atmospheric perspective. It's a good exercise in mixing subtle color variations to depict light and shadow in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, riverbank, and major shapes of the buildings and trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale blue and white, allowing it to blend softly.
step 03
Establish the overall color scheme of the river using varying shades of green, blue, and gray, applied with broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the distant buildings and trees with muted colors, focusing on their shapes rather than details.
step 05
Add the foreground elements, such as the riverbank and trees, with thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes of the objects above, using horizontal strokes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.