plate no. 7040

Saint-Sauves-d'Auvergne

Armand Guillaumin, 1900

oilImpressionismlandscapelandscapemountainssnowtreesskyfield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to mix colors to represent snow and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in applying loose, impressionistic brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, trees, and field, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with light blues and grays, using loose horizontal strokes.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the mountains and trees with a mix of browns, blues, and reds.
step 04
Begin layering the snow-covered areas with whites, blues, and pinks, capturing the subtle color variations.
step 05
Add details to the trees, using small, broken brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 06
Define the shadows in the snow with cool blues and purples.
step 07
Refine the details of the foreground, including the fence and any other elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian green

Mix white with small amounts of blue and pink to create the cool tones of the snow. Use burnt sienna and alizarin crimson to achieve the reddish hues of the trees. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the darker mountain tones.

techniques