plate no. 4322

Auvergne. Town Esteng

Zinaida Serebriakova, 1935

oilExpressionismlandscapetowncastlehillsrivertreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and layering techniques to create depth. It also provides practice in rendering architectural forms and natural landscapes with a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the castle, hills, river, and town buildings.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin wash of grey and hints of blue.
step 03
Block in the basic colors of the hills, using darker greens for shadows and lighter yellows for highlights.
step 04
Paint the castle and buildings with a mix of browns, oranges, and greys, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add the river, reflecting the colors of the sky and surrounding landscape.
step 06
Paint the trees and foliage, using a variety of greens and browns.
step 07
Refine the details of the castle and buildings, adding windows, roofs, and other architectural elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · sap green

Mix raw umber and white for the grey tones in the sky and buildings. Use yellow ochre and sap green for the hills, adding burnt sienna for shadows. Mix blue and white to create the sky.

techniques