plate no. 3307
Winter Thaw
Konstantin Gorbatov, 1910
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering colors to create depth and texture in a winter scene. It also provides practice in capturing the subtle color variations in snow and overcast skies.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of buildings and the road.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral colors.
- step 03
Begin layering in the sky, blending soft grays and blues.
- step 04
Block in the larger shapes of the buildings, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features.
- step 06
Paint the snow-covered ground, using variations of white, blue, and gray to create depth and texture.
- step 07
Add the figures and the horse-drawn cart, keeping them simple and suggestive.
- step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray and blue by combining white, blue, and a touch of umber or black. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create warm tones for the buildings and highlights.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·broken color
- ·dry brush
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Using too much pure white and not enough subtle color variations in the snow.
- →Making the figures too detailed and distracting from the overall composition.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (#2, #6)
- ·flat brushes (#4, #8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for texture. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber before starting.
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