plate no. 3732

Brittany. Pont L`Abbe

Zinaida Serebriakova, 1934

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingsstreetfigureswindowcityscaperoofs

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, color mixing for atmospheric effects, and creating depth through tonal variations. It's also a good exercise in capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, street, and window frame.
step 02
Establish the main value ranges: dark shadows, mid-tones, and highlights.
step 03
Begin blocking in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the street.
step 04
Gradually build up the colors on the buildings, paying attention to the subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, shutters, and roof tiles.
step 06
Paint the figures in the street, keeping them simple and suggestive.
step 07
Refine the details of the window frame, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white

Mix burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the darker tones. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna for the warmer tones of the buildings and street. Add cadmium red to warm up the browns and create the red awning.

techniques