plate no. 6164
Silence of the Snow, Bucket Mill on the Feugh, Finzean
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering reflections in water and depicting the effects of light on snow. It also provides practice in creating depth through atmospheric perspective.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the mill, water, and trees.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of warm and cool tones.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the sky, snow, and water, paying attention to value differences.
- step 04
Begin adding details to the mill, including the texture of the wood and the snow on the roof.
- step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using similar colors to the objects above but in a muted tone.
- step 06
Add details to the trees and branches, using a fine brush to create delicate lines.
- step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows on the snow, creating a sense of depth and form.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the small bird and any remaining highlights.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · alizarin crimson
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber for cool snow shadows. Use orange and crimson for the sky and reflections, muted with umber for depth.
techniques
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering reflections
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
- →Making the snow too uniformly white.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the reflections.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium orange oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 or 18x24) is recommended.
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