plate no. 6331

River Among Snow

watercolor, gouache, paperImpressionismlandscaperiversnowlandscapeskyrocksice

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and subtle color mixing to depict snow and water. It also provides practice in creating depth through layering and 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, focusing on the river's path and horizon line.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted blue and pink for the sky, blending gently.
step 03
Lay in a light wash of pale yellow and blue for the snow-covered areas, varying the tones.
step 04
Define the river with darker blues, greens, and browns, adding reflections.
step 05
Add details to the snow banks and rocks with darker browns and grays, creating shadows.
step 06
Use dry brush techniques to create texture in the snow.
step 07
Refine the details of the rocks and ice, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and reflections in the water.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Mix white with small amounts of blue, yellow, and brown to create the various shades of snow. Use blues and browns for the river, adding white for reflections. Mix pinks with white and alizarin crimson for the sky.

techniques