plate no. 0940

Wood in snow

oil, canvasAcademicismlandscapetreessnowforesthorsefigurewinter

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and subtle color mixing to create a realistic winter scene. It also provides practice in rendering complex textures like snow and tree bark.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, path, and horse-drawn sleigh.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral tones, paying attention to the light source.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the trees and snowdrifts, using a limited palette of whites, grays, and browns.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create depth and dimension in the snow, using subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Add details to the trees, including branches, bark texture, and snow accumulation.
step 06
Paint the horse and figure, paying attention to their proportions and placement within the scene.
step 07
Refine the details of the path and surrounding landscape, adding shadows and highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting and enhance the atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle grays and blues of the snow by mixing titanium white with small amounts of raw umber, ivory black, and ultramarine blue. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to add warmth to the tree bark and foliage.

techniques