plate no. 0557

Winter Harmony

John Henry Twachtman, 1900

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapewinterlandscapesnowtreeswaterstream

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to create a sense of depth using color and value. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of snow and water with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the stream and trees.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of blues and purples for the background and sky.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of snow with white and light grays, paying attention to the shapes and shadows.
step 04
Add the darker values in the water, using blues, greens, and browns to create depth and reflections.
step 05
Paint the trees and branches, using a variety of browns, oranges, and greens.
step 06
Develop the details in the snow, adding texture and highlights with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, using similar colors as the surrounding landscape.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use thin washes of color to build up the atmosphere.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a harsh, unnatural look.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow and water.