Painting a Soft Winter Scene from Normandy (Weekly Challenge #193)
- Natalia C.
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
This week we’re traveling to the serene, snow-covered paths of Alençon in Normandy, France. Known for its lace-making heritage and quiet elegance, this historic town transforms into a gentle wonderland under a layer of snow.
The photos were taken by @barbaradessine during a calm, snowy day, and they invite a softer, slower painting approach. The stillness, the blue-cool hues, and the natural limitations of the scene make this week perfect for revisiting a concept we explored back in Week 189: The Limited Color Palette. But unlike the bright autumn colors of Denmark, here we focus on a muted palette, where fewer colors and subtle variations convey mood and atmosphere.
Focus Point: Muted Limited Palette
A limited color palette is about creating more with less. In winter landscapes, this becomes especially intuitive. Nature has already restricted the range of hues. Snow reflects sky tones, trees are leafless, and sunlight takes on cooler, paler qualities. This week is a great time to let go of full-spectrum thinking and explore how restraint in color can make your work more harmonious, moody, and emotionally resonant.
Why this matters:
It trains your eye to see value and temperature more clearly.
It keeps your painting more unified and less chaotic.
It emphasizes form, light, and design over surface color.
You can revisit my practical guide Get Out of the Box with a Limited Palette – Less Colors, More Impact, where I explored color harmony and how to create depth and emotion with fewer pigments.
Photo-by-Photo Analysis
Now, let's go through the photos of this week.
Photo 1: Winter Morning Light on Garden Table
The sun is just breaking through the trees, casting long golden shadows over the snow. A metal table and chairs, dusted in white, sit still.
Challenge: Balancing warm and cool tones without losing harmony.
Questions:
Where is the light warmest, and how can it be emphasized?
Can you neutralize cools to balance the palette?
How do the shadows direct the viewer's gaze?
Tips:
Try a warm/cool limited palette (e.g., Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White).
Use soft edges and subtle shifts in temperature for mood.
Let the snow glow by keeping midtones muted.
Photo 2: Trees Dressed in Snow
Dense trees coated in snow, no clear path or sky, just texture and subtle contrast.
Challenge: Avoiding visual overload while still showing structure.
Questions:
Can you simplify shapes into value masses?
How can you create visual interest without introducing strong color shifts?
What edges should stay crisp, and which can disappear?
Tips:
Squint to reduce detail and group branches into shadow shapes.
Use lost edges where branches blend into the background.
Limit your brushstrokes to avoid overworking.
Photo 3: Curved Snowy Road
A winding road leads the viewer through layers of snow-dusted trees.
Challenge: Depth and direction with very little color.
Questions:
How can you create depth using only neutrals?
Can the curve of the road be emphasized to guide the eye?
Where can contrast enhance the sense of space?
Tips:
Push distance with cooler, lighter greys in the background.
Bring in subtle warmth in the foreground shadows for contrast.
Lead the eye with value contrasts, not just detail.
Photo 4: Gate at Forest Edge
A hidden gate leads into dense winter woods. The snow softens everything.
Challenge: Capturing mood without a clear subject.
Questions:
What story does this place tell?
Which elements help create a sense of mystery or quiet?
Can simplicity enhance the emotional tone of the scene?
Tips:
Use soft transitions and high-key values.
Focus on atmosphere more than exact form.
A desaturated palette will serve the story better than bright hues.
This week, we return to one of the most powerful artistic principles: doing more with less. A muted limited palette is not just a technical choice, it’s a storytelling tool. It encourages restraint, clarity, and mood. Let this winter scene from Normandy guide you into a quieter painting rhythm.
Paint your own version, interpret it your way, and post on Instagram by Thursday, 15 January 2026, using the hashtag #landscapeartclub193 and tagging @landscapeartclub.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, check the Reference Library. It is a great option to revisit the previous winter scenes
Happy Painting!
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