plate no. 2198

Arch on the street Yatkovaya

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, 1906

oilSymbolismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetarchfigureswindows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, particularly one-point perspective, and in creating depth through variations in color and value. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details and figures in a street scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic structure of the buildings and the arch, paying attention to perspective lines converging towards a vanishing point.
step 02
Establish the main shapes and proportions of the buildings, windows, and figures.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of light yellow or ochre to the buildings as a base layer.
step 04
Add darker tones to create shadows and define architectural details using burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 05
Paint the red building in the background with a mix of red and brown, adjusting the value to create depth.
step 06
Add details to the windows, doors, and signs, using a fine brush.
step 07
Paint the figures with simple shapes and colors, focusing on their placement and scale within the scene.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall composition and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · red · ultramarine blue · white

Mix yellow ochre with burnt umber for the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix red with burnt umber to create the red building in the background.

techniques

·one-point perspective
·layering
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·washes

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective leading to a distorted image.
→Overworking details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a flat image.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast to create depth.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paper
·watercolor paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·water container
·pencil

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·ruler
·kneaded eraser

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure vibrant colors. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein