Snow and Light

.In classical oil painting, every subject, whether a figure, a still life, or a snowy landscape, is built upon the same foundation: structure, light, and harmony. Snow, with its subtle variations in tone and colour temperature, offers the perfect opportunity to practise these timeless principles.
In this workshop, we will begin with a short tour, during which we will closely observe snowy landscapes painted by the old masters before attempting to emulate their techniques in traditional oil paint. We will approach the painting of snow not as a ‘white surface’, but as a study in value, temperature, and layering. The goal is to apply classical methods – thoughtful use of imprimatura, controlled colour mixing, and edge refinement – to create a luminous and convincing image.

Jacob Esselens (1626–1687), Paysage d’hiver avec patineurs .(détail), vers 1655–1660, Huile sur bois, Don Claude Lebrun © Les 2 Musées de la Ville de Luxembourg