plate no. 4638

Winter

Pasquale Celommi, 1900

oil, canvasRealismgenre paintingsnowfigurestreeswinterlandscaperoad

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create a sense of depth using subtle value and color shifts. It's also a good exercise in depicting figures in a muted, realistic style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, trees, and road.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral gray or brown.
step 03
Block in the sky and snow-covered ground, paying attention to subtle value variations.
step 04
Add the distant figures and trees, using lighter values and less detail to create depth.
step 05
Paint the main figures, focusing on capturing their form and clothing with muted colors.
step 06
Add details to the foreground trees and bushes, using slightly darker values and more defined brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of atmosphere and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create visual interest.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · Prussian blue

The key is to mix various shades of gray by combining white with small amounts of umber, black, and ochre. Use blue to cool down the grays for the distant areas and sienna to warm them up for the foreground.

techniques