plate no. 0860

Snow at Haut Isle

Auguste Herbin, 1906

oilImpressionismlandscapewatertreeslandscapesnowbuildingssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations and practice applying broken color techniques to create texture and light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the shapes of the landmasses, and the placement of the trees and building.
step 02
Apply a thin underpainting of a muted green or blue to establish the overall color tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the sky with light greens and yellows, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the water with varying shades of blue and green, reflecting the sky and land. Use horizontal strokes to suggest the water's surface.
step 05
Add the landmasses, using a mix of greens, blues, and whites to represent the snow and vegetation.
step 06
Paint the trees with thin, dark lines, adding small touches of color to suggest branches and foliage.
step 07
Add details to the building, using a small brush to define the shapes and colors.
step 08
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to the colors and shapes of the objects above.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White

secondary · Burnt Sienna · Viridian Green

Mix blues and greens with white to create the various shades of the sky and water. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to add warmth to the land and trees. Mix viridian green with other colors to create muted greens.

techniques

·Broken color
·Impasto
·Color mixing
·Layering
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Creating too much contrast, losing the subtle atmosphere.
→Neglecting the reflections in the water, making the painting look flat.
→Making the brushstrokes too uniform, losing the texture and energy.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, Viridian Green)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags