plate no. 0167

View taken on the eastern gate bridge with falling snow

oilRealismcityscapecityscapesnowbuildingscanalfiguresbridge

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering realistic textures of snow and old buildings. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic composition and perspective of the buildings, bridge, and canal.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 03
Establish the sky with a thin wash of muted grey and white, suggesting the falling snow.
step 04
Develop the buildings, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the bridge and canal, including the reflections in the water.
step 06
Paint the figures and other small details, using darker values to create contrast.
step 07
Add highlights to the snow-covered surfaces to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · payne's gray · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing white with small amounts of earth tones and a touch of gray. Use thin washes for the sky and build up layers of color for the buildings.

techniques