plate no. 2255

Twilight in Winter

oilRomanticismcityscapestreet lampfigurewagonsnownightcityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to depict light and shadow in a nocturnal scene. It's a good exercise in limited palette painting and creating mood.

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, placement of the figure, wagon, and lamp post.
step 02
Establish the dark background tones using a mix of dark browns and blues.
step 03
Block in the general shapes of the wagon and figure, keeping them dark.
step 04
Begin layering in the snow-covered ground with muted grays and blues, creating a sense of depth.
step 05
Paint the glow of the street lamp using yellows and oranges, blending outwards to create a soft halo.
step 06
Add highlights to the figure and wagon where the lamplight hits them.
step 07
Refine the details of the wagon wheels and the figure's form.
step 08
Add subtle details like the texture of the snow and the glow of the lamp on nearby surfaces.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle grays by mixing black, white, and a touch of blue or brown. The warm glow of the lamp is created by layering yellow ochre over a base of burnt sienna.

techniques