plate no. 2404

Enbarkement in Yalta

oil, canvasRealismcityscapeboatswaterfiguresarchitectureskymountains

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting reflections in water and rendering complex architectural details with light and shadow. It also provides practice in painting figures in a naturalistic setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the main shapes and composition: the boats, the architectural structure, and the distant mountains.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and water, then the background mountains and buildings.
step 03
Establish the basic values for the boats and architectural structure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Begin adding details to the architectural structure, focusing on the shapes and patterns.
step 05
Paint the figures on the boats and the pier, simplifying their forms and focusing on their placement and interaction.
step 06
Refine the reflections in the water, using broken brushstrokes to create a sense of movement.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the boats, figures, and architecture.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and values.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

Mix various shades of blue and green for the water, using white to lighten the values. Create earth tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use small amounts of cadmium red to add warmth to the boats and figures.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details in the architectural structure.
→Creating reflections that are too symmetrical or detailed.
→Losing the sense of atmosphere and depth.
→Making the figures too stiff or posed.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·rags