plate no. 4284

Kaunas. Cathedral.

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, 1931

oilSymbolismcityscapecityscapebuildingchurchfenceskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering architectural forms with simplified details. It also provides practice in creating a muted color palette and capturing a sense of mood.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and fence, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light gray wash, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Apply a base coat of red to the main building, varying the intensity to suggest light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the fence with light gray and white, adding subtle variations in tone.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using darker shades of red and gray.
step 06
Paint the bare trees and branches with thin, dark lines.
step 07
Add the distant building with a very light, desaturated tone to create atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Refine the details and add highlights to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red · gray · white

secondary · brown · ochre

Mix various shades of red by adding brown or ochre. Create grays by mixing white with small amounts of black, blue, or brown. Use thin washes of color to create atmospheric effects.

techniques