plate no. 6333

Trapper’s Cabin

Frank Johnston, 1940

oil, boardArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapecabinsnowtreesskylandscapepath

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to represent snow and atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in creating depth through layering and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, cabin placement, and path.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light blue.
step 03
Establish the dark mass of trees in the background using dark browns and greens.
step 04
Lay in the basic shapes of the cabin with browns and whites.
step 05
Begin layering the snow, using varying shades of white, blue, and purple to create depth and shadows.
step 06
Define the path with darker blues and grays, suggesting footprints.
step 07
Add details to the cabin, such as the roof and logs.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create a sense of form and light.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix white with small amounts of blue and purple to create the cool tones of the snow. Use burnt umber and white for the cabin. Mix greens and browns for the trees.

techniques

·layering
·color mixing
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Using pure white for the snow without considering shadows and reflected light.
→Neglecting the atmospheric perspective, making the background appear too sharp.
→Making the path too uniform and lacking variation.