plate no. 1096

Amsterdam. The market of iron.

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingswatercityscapecanalboatsreflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and rendering reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex architectural details.

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, canal, and boats, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue-gray to the sky and water, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Add darker washes to the buildings, gradually building up the values and suggesting architectural details.
step 04
Paint the reflections in the water, using similar colors to the buildings but with softer edges and less detail.
step 05
Introduce the green tones for the trees and hints of red for the rooftops.
step 06
Add details to the boats and figures in the foreground, using darker values to create contrast.
step 07
Refine the architectural details with a fine brush, adding windows and other features.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Titanium white

secondary · Sap green · Cadmium red light · Yellow ochre

Mix blue and umber for the dominant gray tones. Use white to lighten the values and create atmospheric perspective. Add touches of red and green for interest.

techniques