plate no. 3181

A Street Scene from Riga

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, 1925

watercolor, paperSymbolismcityscapebuildingscityscapearchitecturewindowsroofsstreet

some experience helpful

This painting is a good exercise in perspective and capturing the atmosphere of a city street. Recreating it will help students develop skills in watercolor washes and creating depth through layering.

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 and perspective lines of the buildings.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire paper as a base tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the colors of the buildings, starting with the lightest tones and gradually adding darker values.
step 04
Paint the roofs with a mix of red, brown, and orange, adding details to suggest tiles.
step 05
Add details to the windows and doors, using darker colors to create shadows.
step 06
Paint the street and sidewalk with a mix of gray and brown, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 07
Use a fine brush to add details such as the street lamp, signs, and architectural embellishments.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · raw umber

secondary · viridian · cadmium red · payne's gray

Mix yellow ochre with burnt sienna for the building walls. Use viridian and yellow ochre for the green shutters. Payne's gray can be used to darken values and create shadows.

techniques