plate no. 4928

A nook of old Yerevan

Martiros Sarian, 1928

oil, canvasExpressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurescityscapeskytreesdonkey

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow with expressive brushstrokes and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It also provides practice in depicting figures in a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, figures, and landscape, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of blue and white, leaving some areas for clouds.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the buildings using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber.
step 04
Paint the shadows on the buildings with a mix of burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and a touch of alizarin crimson.
step 05
Add the figures and donkey, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Use short, expressive brushstrokes to depict the ground, varying the colors with touches of blue, yellow, and brown.
step 07
Add details such as windows, doors, and architectural elements, using a smaller brush.
step 08
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow

Mix white with yellow ochre for the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the cooler shadows. Add alizarin crimson to darken shadows and create warmer browns.

techniques