plate no. 7684
The Mill
Frits Thaulow, 1895
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle color variations in a winter landscape.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, paying attention to the perspective of the buildings and the flow of the water.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the sky and water, then the buildings and snow.
- step 03
Develop the details of the buildings, including the brickwork and windows, using a variety of brushstrokes.
- step 04
Add the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes and subtle color variations.
- step 05
Create the texture of the snow with thicker paint and dry brushing.
- step 06
Refine the details of the water, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Add the finishing touches, such as the birds in the sky and any other small details.
- step 08
Let the painting dry completely and then apply a varnish to protect it.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black
Mix burnt sienna and raw umber with white for the buildings and snow. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky and water. Add small amounts of cadmium red for the roofs and reflections.
techniques
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
- →Making the colors too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of winter.
- →Not paying attention to the perspective of the buildings and the flow of the water.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow and water.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, ivory black)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting knife
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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