plate no. 1951

The Mill In Winter

oilImpressionismlandscapesnowrivertreesbuildingslandscapebridge

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 winter landscape. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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 buildings, river, and trees.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light blue wash, allowing it to blend softly.
step 03
Block in the large areas of snow with varying shades of white, gray, and blue.
step 04
Paint the river using dark greens and browns, adding highlights to suggest movement.
step 05
Add the buildings, paying attention to their form and the shadows cast by the snow.
step 06
Paint the trees with thin, dark lines, adding subtle branches.
step 07
Refine the details, such as the bridge and the textures in the snow.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green · raw sienna

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the various shades of snow. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the buildings, and mix greens and browns for the river.

techniques