plate no. 6208

Selling Pretzels (Waiting for Christmas)

Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpana, 1925

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguressnowwinterclothinglandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice applying visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. It's a good exercise in capturing light and shadow in a snowy landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the figures and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the figures' clothing, the snow, and the sky.
step 03
Begin adding layers of paint, focusing on capturing the subtle color variations in the snow and clothing.
step 04
Use short, visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 05
Pay attention to the direction of light and shadow to create depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the figures' faces and clothing.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray · cadmium yellow light

Mix white with small amounts of blue and yellow ochre to create the cool tones in the snow. Use burnt umber and yellow ochre to create the warm tones in the figures' clothing. Add small amounts of blue to darken shadows.

techniques