plate no. 5538

Red House

Lawren Harris, 1925

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapehousesnowtreeswinterlandscapefence

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in rendering a building with simple geometric forms and capturing the texture of snow with varied brushstrokes. Students will learn to create depth using atmospheric perspective and color temperature.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the house, trees, and landscape, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, snow, house, and trees, using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the color of the house, layering shades of red and adding details to the windows and trim.
step 04
Add texture to the snow using short, broken brushstrokes and varying shades of white and gray.
step 05
Paint the trees, focusing on the shapes of the branches and the snow clinging to them.
step 06
Refine the details of the fence and background buildings, using muted colors to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensional form of the objects.
step 08
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to color, value, and detail.

color palette

primary · red · white · blue · yellow

secondary · green · gray · brown

Mix various shades of red by adding white, yellow, or brown. Create grays by mixing black and white, and adjust the temperature by adding blue or yellow. Achieve snow shadows with blue and purple tints.

techniques