plate no. 3019

Winter

Stefan Caltia, 2005

oilMagic Realismlandscapesnowbuildingtreesskyfigurehill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice color mixing for subtle value changes in snow and sky, as well as creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides an opportunity to practice painting delicate tree branches and a stylized figure.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the hill, building, trees, and figure.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of blues, lighter towards the horizon.
step 03
Paint the snow-covered hill, paying attention to subtle value changes to indicate form.
step 04
Add the blue building, ensuring the color is consistent with the overall palette.
step 05
Paint the bare trees, focusing on the delicate branches and varying thicknesses.
step 06
Add the figure, paying attention to the proportions and color harmony.
step 07
Refine the details of the snow, trees, and figure.
step 08
Add the star in the sky.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix blues and white for the sky and snow, adding small amounts of umber to create shadows in the snow. Use crimson and ochre for the figure and subtle tints in the trees.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·glazing
·dry brushing
·color blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the snow and losing subtle value changes.
→Making the blue building too saturated and out of harmony with the rest of the painting.
→Failing to create depth in the trees.
→Incorrect proportions of the figure.