plate no. 3799

Windmills

Roman Selsky, 1932

oilImpressionismlandscapewindmillslandscapeskycloudsfieldsnow

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in pastel application, color layering, and creating atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the windmills, horizon line, and clouds.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with light washes of pastel, focusing on the sky and ground.
step 03
Layer in the darker blues and purples for shadows in the snow and on the windmills.
step 04
Add the details of the windmills, including the blades and structural elements, using short, broken strokes.
step 05
Develop the sky with soft, blended pastel strokes, creating subtle variations in color.
step 06
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details, such as the texture of the snow and the subtle colors in the clouds.
step 08
Soften edges with a blending stump or finger to create a hazy, atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · sky blue · titanium white · light ochre

secondary · lavender · light pink · pale yellow

Mix white with blue for the sky, and add touches of pink or lavender to create subtle variations. Mix ochre and white for the ground, adding blue for shadows.

techniques