plate no. 9303

The First Snow, Howden Hill, Selkirk

Tom Scott, 1918

oilRealismlandscapelandscapehillstreesskyfieldfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering washes to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering bare trees and subtle color variations in a landscape.

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 horizon line and the placement of the hills and trees.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey or blue for the sky, allowing it to dry completely.
step 03
Paint the distant hills with a light wash of blue-grey, creating atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Add a wash of ochre and brown to the large hill, varying the intensity to create shadows and highlights.
step 05
Paint the field with a mix of yellow ochre and a touch of brown, creating subtle variations in tone.
step 06
Carefully paint the trees in the foreground with a fine brush, paying attention to the branching patterns.
step 07
Add details to the trees and foreground with darker browns and greys.
step 08
Add the figure and birds as final details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw sienna · payne's gray · titanium white

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the field and hills. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the grey tones in the sky and distant hills. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques