plate no. 8758

Frosty evening (Sofia Kiev)

Yuriy Khymych, 1992

gouachePost-Impressionismcityscapearchitecturechurchdomescityscapesnowsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex architectural forms and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and atmospheric scene. It also provides practice in layering and blending gouache to achieve depth and texture.

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 of the buildings and domes, paying attention to proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale yellow and grey, allowing some areas to remain unpainted for highlights.
step 03
Apply a base layer of grey-blue to the buildings, varying the tone slightly to suggest form.
step 04
Add darker shades of blue and grey to create shadows and define architectural details.
step 05
Use a dry brush technique to apply highlights of white and pale blue to simulate snow on the domes and rooftops.
step 06
Paint the details of the domes, including the gold accents and crosses, using small brushes.
step 07
Add the foreground snow with varying shades of blue, creating texture with short brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Payne's gray

secondary · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber

Mix Prussian blue and Payne's gray for the darker blues. Add white to create lighter shades of blue and grey. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber sparingly for the gold accents on the domes.

techniques