plate no. 0870

Crimea. Baidar Valley

Ivan Bilibin, 1918

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)landscapelandscapetreesmountainsfieldskyvalley

suitable for beginners

This painting is great for learning about atmospheric perspective and creating depth using subtle color variations. Students can practice simplified forms and learn to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely.

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 horizon line and the placement of the mountains and trees.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, gradually lightening towards the horizon.
step 03
Paint the distant mountains with a muted blue-gray, using lighter values for the more distant peaks.
step 04
Establish the base color for the field, a light yellow-green, and add subtle variations in tone.
step 05
Paint the line of trees in the mid-ground, using vertical strokes to suggest their form.
step 06
Add the foreground trees, varying their size and shape, and using darker greens for the shadows.
step 07
Introduce small details like the suggestion of buildings and fields in the distance.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow-green · light blue · gray

secondary · brown · dark green · light yellow

Mix light blue with white for the sky, and add a touch of yellow or green for the distant mountains. Use yellow and blue to create various shades of green for the field and trees. Add brown to darken the greens for shadows.

techniques