plate no. 0223

Bakhchisarai Street

Yuriy Khymych, 1952

watercolorRealismcityscapebuildingsstreetarchitectureskyfigureshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor washes, capturing light and shadow, and simplifying complex architectural forms. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere in a cityscape.

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 and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to dry completely.
step 03
Begin layering washes for the buildings, starting with the lightest tones and gradually building up darker values.
step 04
Use a mix of warm and cool colors to create the shadows and highlights on the buildings.
step 05
Add details to the windows, doors, and rooftops using smaller brushes.
step 06
Paint the street and foreground, paying attention to the patterns of light and shadow.
step 07
Add the figure in the street with a small brush and simple shapes.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix ultramarine and burnt sienna for the shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the buildings. Add alizarin crimson to burnt sienna for the roof tiles.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·layering
·wet-on-dry
·lifting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the washes and losing the transparency of the watercolor.
→Creating muddy colors by mixing too many pigments together.
→Ignoring the importance of light and shadow in creating depth.
→Getting the perspective wrong, which can make the buildings look distorted.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb cold press

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
·palette
·water container
·pencil
·eraser
·masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·masking fluid
·ruler

Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for better blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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