plate no. 7374

Admiralty under the snow

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, 1909

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapebuildingsnowtreescityscapefiguresarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited palette to create a cohesive atmosphere. It also provides practice in creating depth using value and linear perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing point(s).
step 03
Block in the sky with a light gray wash.
step 04
Paint the buildings with a light yellow-ochre, adding darker values for shadows.
step 05
Add the snow on the trees and ground with white, leaving some areas unpainted to suggest texture.
step 06
Use black or dark brown to define the tree branches and the outlines of the figures.
step 07
Refine the details of the architecture, such as the columns and windows.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.