plate no. 6141

Bastille

Konstantín Korovin, 1928

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapenightParisbuildingscarsfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and using loose brushstrokes to suggest detail rather than rendering it precisely. It also provides practice in painting reflections and working with a limited color palette to create a sense of unity.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the monument and the main buildings.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the dark greens and blues of the sky and the lighter greens and yellows of the ground.
step 03
Add the highlights of the streetlights and building lights using brighter yellows and oranges.
step 04
Paint the monument with dark grays and blacks, adding subtle highlights to suggest form.
step 05
Add the figures and cars using quick, gestural brushstrokes.
step 06
Create reflections on the wet ground by mirroring the colors and shapes of the objects above.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches, such as the moon and the subtle variations in the sky.

color palette

primary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ivory black

Mix greens by combining viridian green and yellow ochre. Create darker values by adding ultramarine blue or ivory black. Use alizarin crimson to create warm tones for the lights and reflections.

techniques

·broken color
·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·gestural brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the night scene.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and unconvincing painting.
→Making the reflections too literal and not suggesting the distortion caused by the wet ground.