plate no. 5647
Winter in the Village
Ivan Generalić, 1970
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also offers a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hill, houses, and large tree, focusing on composition.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue-gray, blending smoothly.
- step 03
Add the base color for the snow-covered ground, a slightly darker cool gray.
- step 04
Paint the basic shapes of the houses and the church with their respective colors.
- step 05
Add details to the trees, using thin lines for branches and twigs.
- step 06
Paint the figure in the foreground with simple shapes and colors.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, especially on the snow and houses.
- step 08
Refine details and add final touches, such as snow on the rooftops and branches.
color palette
primary · titanium white · cerulean blue · burnt umber
secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green
Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the various shades of gray for the sky and snow. Use ochre and umber to create the muted tones of the buildings.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color mixing
- ·simplification
common pitfalls
- →Overworking details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth with atmospheric perspective.
- →Making the tree branches too uniform or symmetrical.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·easel
Use a canvas size appropriate for the level of detail you wish to achieve. Acrylics are recommended for their quick drying time.
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