plate no. 4366

Winter. Thaw. Pskov

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1910

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapesnowbuildingsvillagewinterskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create the effect of light and shadow on snow. It also provides practice in rendering architectural details with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, fence, and trees, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and snow-covered ground.
step 04
Add the colors of the buildings, using a limited palette and mixing colors on the canvas.
step 05
Develop the details of the buildings, such as windows, doors, and rooflines.
step 06
Add the trees and branches, using dry brush techniques to create texture.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details, such as footprints in the snow and subtle color variations.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Mix white with small amounts of blue and yellow ochre for the snow. Use burnt sienna and cadmium red for the buildings, and viridian green for the fence. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the grays in the trees and shadows.

techniques