plate no. 4344

Pond Pass

oilContemporary Realismlandscapetreessnowwaterlandscapeforestreflection

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in painting realistic tree forms with simplified brushstrokes.

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 shapes of the pond, snow, and tree line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash.
step 03
Lay in the base color for the snow, using a slightly tinted white to capture the shadows.
step 04
Paint the dark shapes of the pond and stream, paying attention to the reflections.
step 05
Begin layering the trees in the background, starting with the darker greens and adding lighter highlights.
step 06
Add the details of the birch trees, using thin lines for the branches and markings.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, capturing the shapes and colors of the trees and sky.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to the snow and trees.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · sap green · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix greens by combining sap green with ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Achieve the snow shadows by mixing a small amount of blue or brown with white.

techniques