plate no. 7698

Winter Evening in Holland

oil, canvasRomanticismlandscapelandscapewinterwindmilltreeswaterfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating a sense of depth through subtle value and color changes. It also offers practice in painting bare trees and reflections in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the horizon line, windmill, trees, and figure.
step 02
Block in the sky with a gradient of warm colors, from a deeper orange near the horizon to a lighter pinkish hue higher up.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees and foliage, using a mix of browns and blacks.
step 04
Paint the snow-covered ground, using lighter values of brown and gray, and adding subtle variations in color to suggest texture.
step 05
Add the windmill in the distance, paying attention to its simplified form and muted colors.
step 06
Paint the water, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape, using horizontal brushstrokes.
step 07
Add the figure walking through the water, using dark colors and simplified shapes.
step 08
Refine the details, such as the branches of the trees, the texture of the snow, and the reflections in the water.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium orange

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · alizarin crimson

Achieve the subtle atmospheric colors by mixing white with small amounts of orange, umber, and crimson. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the browns and create shadows.

techniques