plate no. 1536

Pontoise, the Road to Gisors in Winter

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapebuildingsstreetsnowfiguresskyroad

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effects of light and shadow on a winter scene. It also provides practice in rendering architectural forms with loose, impressionistic brushstrokes.

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 to establish the basic composition and perspective of the street and buildings.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the buildings, sky, and road with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values to create a sense of depth and form.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and rooflines, using small, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the snow on the roofs and ground, paying attention to the way it reflects light.
step 06
Introduce figures and other elements to add interest and scale.
step 07
Refine the colors and values, blending and layering as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red

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

techniques

·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the impressionistic feel.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Using colors that are too saturated and bright.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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