plate no. 9334
Hermann at the entrance to the countess
Alexandre Benois, 1910
gouache, leadpoint, pastel, watercolor, paperArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationbuildingsnowfigurestreet lampcarriagenight
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for muted tones, and rendering light sources in a nighttime scene. It also provides practice in depicting architectural forms and figures in a stylized manner.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the building, figure, and carriage.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral gray or brown.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the building and figure with darker values, paying attention to the light source.
- step 04
Add the warm glow of the window and street lamp with diluted yellows and oranges.
- step 05
Develop the details of the building's architecture and the figure's form.
- step 06
Paint the falling snow with small, irregular dots of white.
- step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add finishing touches, such as the details of the carriage and the texture of the snow.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · titanium white · cadmium yellow
Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., raw umber and ultramarine blue) with white. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm light sources.
techniques
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Making the snow too uniform and distracting.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Not creating enough depth through value contrast.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic gesso
- ·ivory black acrylic paint
- ·raw umber acrylic paint
- ·yellow ochre acrylic paint
- ·titanium white acrylic paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brush (size 1/2 inch)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Use a canvas with a smooth surface for better blending. Acrylics are recommended for their fast drying time, but oils can also be used.
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