plate no. 1621

Barges in Novgorod

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1913

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapewaterboatsbuildingsskycloudsfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and creating depth using atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of buildings and boats with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, boats, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, and land, using thin washes.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the boats and buildings.
step 04
Begin layering colors to create the textures of the buildings and boats, using visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the reflections in the water, paying attention to the color and value relationships.
step 06
Add details to the figures and architectural elements.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · viridian green · cadmium red · raw umber

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Create muted tones by adding small amounts of complementary colors (e.g., red to green, blue to orange).

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·wet-on-dry layering
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Making the reflections too literal and not capturing the movement of the water.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
→Getting the perspective of the buildings wrong.