plate no. 0843

Study for Blue Ducktrap

Neil Welliver, 1998

oil, canvasContemporary Realismlandscaperivertreessnowlandscapebirch trees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as understanding how to represent reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into manageable shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the river, trees, and snow banks.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, trees, and snow using thinned paint.
step 03
Begin layering colors in the water to create the illusion of depth and movement, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 04
Add details to the trees, paying attention to the light and shadow on the bark.
step 05
Define the shapes of the snow banks, using cool blues and grays to represent shadows.
step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, adding small highlights and shadows to create texture.
step 07
Add the dark lines on the birch trees.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a sense of harmony and balance.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · raw sienna

Mix blues and browns with white to create the cool tones of the snow and water. Use yellow ochre and sap green sparingly to add warmth to the trees and foliage.

techniques