plate no. 8484

Early 18th Century Petersburg

Eugene Lanceray, 1906

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapebuildingswaterboatsfiguresskycityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective drawing, particularly for architectural elements, and in rendering atmospheric perspective to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, boats, and figures, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing points for the buildings.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, water, and buildings with thin washes.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features.
step 05
Paint the boats and figures, focusing on their shapes and colors.
step 06
Develop the water with short, choppy brushstrokes to suggest movement.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber and white for the building's base color, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and cadmium red for the boats and figures' clothing. Mixes of umber, blue, and red create the dark water.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·linear perspective
·dry brushing
·layering
·washes

common pitfalls

→Incorrect perspective will ruin the sense of depth.
→Overworking the details can make the painting look stiff.
→Not creating enough contrast will make the painting look flat.
→Failing to capture the atmospheric perspective will reduce the sense of distance.