plate no. 3879

Sugaring Off

Grandma Moses, 1943

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)genre paintingwinterlandscapefiguressnowtreesvillage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques and develop skills in depicting figures in a landscape setting. It also encourages simplification of forms and a focus on overall composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic landscape layout, including the hills, buildings, and major tree groupings.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, leaving some areas for clouds.
step 03
Establish the snow-covered areas with white, adding subtle shadows with light gray or blue.
step 04
Paint the distant hills with muted blues and grays to create depth.
step 05
Add the buildings and trees, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Populate the scene with figures, using simple shapes and colors to represent them.
step 07
Add details such as the horse-drawn sleighs, animals, and maple sugaring equipment.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · payne's gray

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create various shades of snow. Use red and yellow for figures and details, and mix blue and umber for grays and shadows.

techniques