plate no. 3648

Untitled (Wooden Landscape)

Tom Thomson, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreessnowforestlandscapeshadowssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature in shadows and learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes. It will also improve their ability to create depth using color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the horizon line with a light pencil.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of blue paint.
step 03
Establish the dark areas of the tree trunks and the shadows in the snow using a mix of browns and blues.
step 04
Add the lighter values to the tree trunks, using yellows and creams.
step 05
Paint the snow, focusing on the cool blue shadows and the warmer highlights.
step 06
Refine the shapes of the trees and add details to the foreground.
step 07
Add small details like twigs and branches.
step 08
Review and adjust values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix white with small amounts of blue to create the cool shadows on the snow. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the tree trunks, adjusting the values with white. Mix blue and burnt umber for the darker areas.

techniques