plate no. 1290

Crossroads of times

Yuriy Khymych, 1983

gouachePost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfiguresmountainsstreetarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding color temperature to create depth. It also encourages expressive brushwork and confident line work.

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 composition, focusing on the placement of buildings and mountains.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with diluted washes, starting with the sky and ground.
step 03
Add the darker values to define the shapes of the buildings and mountains.
step 04
Introduce secondary colors to create variations and interest within the larger color blocks.
step 05
Define the architectural details with confident brushstrokes, using a smaller brush.
step 06
Add the figures, paying attention to their relative size and placement.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix blue and white for the sky and ground, adding touches of red or sienna for warmth. Use sienna and blue to create the browns for the buildings and mountains. Mix red and yellow for the roof tiles.

techniques