plate no. 2904
Winter Morning, Charlevoix County
A.Y. Jackson, 1933
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to create depth using atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes and forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, buildings, and road, paying attention to perspective.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
- step 03
Block in the sky with light blue, blending towards the horizon.
- step 04
Apply a base layer of white mixed with a touch of blue and purple for the snow.
- step 05
Add warmer tones (orange, yellow) to the mountains and areas of the snow that are catching the sunlight.
- step 06
Define the shadows in the snow with darker blues and purples.
- step 07
Add details like the telephone poles and small buildings.
- step 08
Refine the brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium orange · dioxazine purple
Mix white with small amounts of blue and purple for the snow shadows. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the warm tones in the mountains and road. Add a touch of orange to the sienna for highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·color temperature
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
- →Not establishing a clear light source.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the snow.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a limited palette to simplify color mixing. Consider using a medium to thin the paint slightly for smoother blending.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
