plate no. 7755

Spring. The Rooks Have Arrived.

oilRealismlandscapewinterlandscapetreessnowskychurch

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning atmospheric perspective and how to create a sense of depth using color and value. It also offers practice in rendering bare trees and subtle cloud formations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and placement of the church and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad washes of muted blues, grays, and whites, blending softly.
step 03
Lay in the distant landscape with thin washes of browns and grays, keeping the values lighter than the foreground.
step 04
Paint the snow-covered ground, using a mix of white, gray, and subtle hints of brown and blue to create shadows and variations.
step 05
Add the church, paying attention to its architectural details and the subtle color variations in its walls.
step 06
Paint the bare trees, using thin lines and varying the thickness to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 07
Add the rooks and their nests in the trees.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and blue to create the cool tones of the snow and sky. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the warmer tones in the trees and distant landscape.

techniques