plate no. 2788

Ai-Petri. Crimea

Arkhyp Kuindzhi, 1908

oil, paperImpressionismlandscapemountainssealandscapeskywaves

some experience helpful

This painting offers a great opportunity to practice atmospheric perspective and value control to create depth. Students can also develop their skills in rendering water and mountain forms with simplified brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and the horizon line.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of light blue and white.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains with a lighter, cooler blue.
step 04
Layer progressively darker and warmer blues for the closer mountain ranges.
step 05
Begin defining the water with broad strokes of dark blue and black.
step 06
Add highlights to the waves using lighter blues and whites, focusing on the crests.
step 07
Refine the details of the mountains and water, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Add final touches to the sky and foreground to create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cerulean blue · payne's gray

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine blue with white for lighter tones and black for darker tones. Use cerulean blue for cooler highlights on the mountains.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Not creating enough contrast between the mountain ranges, resulting in a flat image.
→Making the water too uniform, failing to capture the movement and texture.
→Using too much white, washing out the colors.