plate no. 8858
The Rooks Have Come Back
Aleksey Savrasov, 1871
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures like snow and tree bark, as well as creating atmospheric perspective to suggest depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, church, and horizon line.
- step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of blues and grays, blending to create soft clouds.
- step 03
Block in the distant landscape with muted colors, paying attention to value differences to create depth.
- step 04
Paint the church, focusing on capturing its architectural details and the effect of light on its surface.
- step 05
Begin layering the snow, using a variety of whites, grays, and blues to create texture and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the trees, starting with the main trunks and branches, then adding smaller twigs and details.
- step 07
Add the birds and nests, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
- step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · payne's gray
Mix various shades of gray by combining white, blue, and umber. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to add warmth to the snow and tree bark.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Making the snow too white and lacking depth.
- →Not capturing the subtle color variations in the sky and landscape.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and distance.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color harmony.
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