plate no. 9370

Winter Sun in Hafnarfjörður

Asgrimur Jonsson, 1930

oilImpressionismlandscapemountainssnowwaterskybuildingslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for atmospheric perspective and layering brushstrokes to create texture and depth. It also provides practice in capturing the effects of light and reflection on water and snow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, dividing the canvas into foreground, middle ground, and background.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the main shapes of the mountains and landmasses.
step 03
Block in the sky with broad strokes, capturing the warm sunset colors.
step 04
Paint the water with horizontal strokes, reflecting the colors of the sky.
step 05
Add the distant mountains, using cooler, muted tones to create atmospheric perspective.
step 06
Develop the foreground with textured brushstrokes, layering colors to represent snow and rocks.
step 07
Add details to the buildings and other elements in the middle ground.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · violet · raw umber

Mix white with yellow ochre and a touch of red for the sky. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create muted grays and browns for the mountains. Add violet to white for cool snow shadows.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Neglecting the importance of atmospheric perspective, making the background appear too sharp.
→Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the focal point.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the snow.