plate no. 4462

Suburb under snow

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapesnowbuildingstreesroadfiguressky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in capturing the subtle nuances of light and shadow in a snowy landscape. It also provides practice in depicting figures and buildings in perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the road, buildings, and tree placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light, muted blue-gray.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the buildings and road using thin washes.
step 04
Layer in the snow, using white mixed with small amounts of blue, brown, and pink to create variations.
step 05
Add the trees, paying attention to the shapes of the branches and the negative space around them.
step 06
Paint the figures in the distance, simplifying their forms and colors.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the texture of the snow and the architectural elements of the buildings.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · cadmium red light

Mix white with small amounts of blue, brown, and pink to create the various shades of snow. Use burnt sienna and raw umber for the buildings and road, adding touches of red and yellow for warmth. Mix ultramarine blue with burnt sienna to create the dark tones for the trees.

techniques