plate no. 6756

Bateaux À Novgorod

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1920

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismmarinaboatswaterbuildingsskycloudsfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering architectural forms with simplified shapes and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the boats, buildings, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and land, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the buildings and boats.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Develop the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes and varying values.
step 06
Add details to the boats, including the sails, masts, and hulls.
step 07
Refine the sky and clouds, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue and green for the water, using white to lighten the values. Create the building colors by mixing white with small amounts of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and alizarin crimson.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth in the water.
→Making the colors too saturated and unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and clouds.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, viridian green, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags