plate no. 9883

Winter Thaw in the Woods

Tom Thomson, 1917

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapetreessnowwoodslandscapewinterforest

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in impasto brushwork and color mixing to represent light and shadow on snow. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations in a seemingly monochromatic scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and snow drifts, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the reddish-brown of the trees, the white of the snow, and the blue of the shadows.
step 03
Start adding thicker paint with visible brushstrokes to create texture and dimension.
step 04
Mix various shades of white with blues, purples, and browns to capture the subtle color variations in the snow.
step 05
Use short, choppy brushstrokes to depict the texture of the tree bark and branches.
step 06
Add highlights to the snow and trees to create a sense of depth and light.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to match the original painting.
step 08
Add final touches and details to the foreground elements.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · yellow ochre

Mix white with small amounts of blue, purple, and brown to create the cool tones in the snow shadows. Use burnt umber and cadmium red for the reddish-brown tones of the trees, and add sap green for the foliage.

techniques