plate no. 9749

Waterloo Place

Robert Spencer, 1917

oilImpressionismcityscapebuildingssnowwinterfiguretreeswater

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in capturing the subtle color variations in snow and the texture of buildings using broken brushstrokes. Students can also learn to create depth using atmospheric perspective and varying levels of detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, figure, and water, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, such as the buildings, snow, and water, using broader brushstrokes.
step 04
Begin to add details to the buildings, such as windows and doors, using smaller brushes.
step 05
Develop the texture of the snow and the water with broken brushstrokes and varying values.
step 06
Add the bare trees and branches, using a fine brush and a dark color.
step 07
Refine the details of the figure and the laundry line.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and yellow ochre to create the various shades of snow. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the snow shadows. Mix burnt sienna and raw umber for the building tones.

techniques