plate no. 7216

Winter scene with skaters

oil, woodBaroquelandscapewinterlandscapefiguresbuildingsicetrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting atmospheric perspective and rendering details in a limited color palette. It also offers practice in painting figures in motion and architectural elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of buildings, figures, and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with thin washes of blue and white, blending for a soft, overcast effect.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings using a base color of burnt sienna and umber.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and snow-covered roofs, using lighter tones and small brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the figures on the ice, paying attention to their poses and proportions.
step 06
Create the icy surface with a mix of blues, grays, and whites, reflecting the sky and surrounding elements.
step 07
Add bare trees and branches using thin lines and varying shades of brown and gray.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · cadmium red light

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth colors with white and small amounts of blue or black. Create variations in the snow by adding hints of yellow ochre or burnt sienna.

techniques

·scumbling
·dry brushing
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a less realistic winter scene.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and color in the snow and ice.