plate no. 1806

Winter Village

Aleksander Belyaev, 2016

oil, canvasRealismlandscapewintervillagesnowtreeshouseslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in painting bare tree branches and snow effects.

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 houses, trees, and horizon line using a light pencil.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light grey and white.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees in the background using dark grey and green mixtures.
step 04
Paint the snow-covered ground with varying shades of white, grey, and blue, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Add the houses, focusing on their basic shapes and the shadows created by the snow.
step 06
Paint the bare tree in the foreground, using thin, dark lines for the branches and thicker strokes for the snow.
step 07
Add details such as the fence, bushes, and footprints in the snow.
step 08
Refine the values and colors, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix various shades of grey by combining white and black. Add small amounts of blue, umber, or ochre to create cool and warm greys. Use white with a touch of blue for the snow.

techniques