plate no. 1391

A Provincial Town on a River

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1910

oilImpressionismlandscaperiverbuildingstreesvillageskyfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and learn to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall impression of a scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement of the river, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and river.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the buildings and trees.
step 04
Layer lighter colors on top to create highlights and variations in tone.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the foliage and water.
step 06
Add details to the buildings and trees, but avoid overworking them.
step 07
Refine the reflections in the water, paying attention to color and value.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create variations in the sky and water by adding small amounts of alizarin crimson or burnt sienna to the blue.

techniques