plate no. 5996

Graves at the head of the harbour of Balaklava

oilRealismgenre paintingfiguressnowshipsmountainsgravessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering figures in a landscape. It also provides practice in creating a limited palette with subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the major shapes: mountains, ships, figures, and graves.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the sky, mountains, and foreground with diluted washes.
step 03
Develop the shapes of the ships and buildings in the background, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 04
Add details to the figures in the foreground, focusing on their poses and clothing.
step 05
Refine the shapes and shadows of the graves in the snow.
step 06
Add subtle details like the bare tree and tools in the foreground.
step 07
Adjust the values and contrasts throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Achieve the various shades of brown and gray by mixing raw umber, white, and black in different proportions. Use burnt sienna to warm up some areas and payne's gray to cool down others.

techniques