plate no. 0954

Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Irkutsk

Eugene Lanceray, 1906

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapechurcharchitectureskylandscapebuildingshill

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering architectural forms with simplified shapes and values. It also provides practice in mixing muted colors and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the church and the hill, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray-blue wash, leaving some areas lighter to suggest clouds.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the church, using a mix of white, gray, and a touch of green.
step 04
Paint the green roofs and the darker areas of the building, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Add details to the windows and architectural features, using a fine brush.
step 06
Paint the hill with varying shades of green and brown, creating a sense of depth.
step 07
Add the fence and small details like the trees and stars.
step 08
Refine the painting by adjusting values and adding subtle color variations.

color palette

primary · titanium white · payne's gray · sap green

secondary · raw umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix white with small amounts of Payne's gray and ultramarine blue to achieve the sky color. Use raw umber and yellow ochre to create earth tones for the hill. Mix sap green with raw umber to create the darker greens of the roofs and foliage.

techniques