plate no. 3897
Winter in Skit
Mikhaïl Nesterov, 1904
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to represent snow and distant landscapes. It also provides practice in painting figures in a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the major landscape elements.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the distant mountains.
- step 03
Establish the values in the snow, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
- step 04
Paint the figure, focusing on the shapes and folds of the clothing.
- step 05
Add details to the trees and buildings in the background.
- step 06
Refine the details in the foreground, including the fence and the snow texture.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value relationships.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of white with small amounts of blue, umber, and ochre to create the different tones of snow. Use red and umber to create the red skirt, and black with umber for the dark clothing.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the snow and losing the subtle variations in tone.
- →Making the figure too detailed and distracting from the overall composition.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
- →Using pure white for the snow without mixing in other colors.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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