plate no. 5468

Paris, la Seine sous la Neige

canvas, oilImpressionismlandscapetreessnowriverskylandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and limited palette color mixing. It's a good exercise in capturing a mood with subtle value changes.

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 and the placement of the trees and river.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light gray, blending it slightly darker towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of the trees on the left side, using a mix of dark browns and grays.
step 04
Paint the snow-covered ground with varying shades of white and gray, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Define the river with horizontal strokes of gray, reflecting the sky's color.
step 06
Add subtle details to the trees and snow, suggesting texture with dry brush techniques.
step 07
Soften edges and blend areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights to the snow and sky to enhance the light.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber

secondary · burnt umber · payne's gray

Achieve the various grays by mixing white and black in different proportions. Add small amounts of raw umber or burnt umber to warm up the grays. Use Payne's gray to darken the shadows.

techniques