plate no. 7858

Khachatur Abovian's house in Kanaker

oil, canvasRealismcityscapebuildingskycloudslandscapearchitectureshadows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and rendering subtle light and shadow variations to create a sense of depth and realism.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, teepee, and landscape, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of blue and grey, blending to create cloud formations.
step 03
Establish the main light source (sun/moon) and its effect on the buildings and ground.
step 04
Paint the buildings using a mix of browns, yellows, and greys, capturing the texture and form.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features.
step 06
Create the shadows cast by the buildings and objects, using darker tones of the ground color.
step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, including the wagon and any other objects.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the overall realism and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber · Titanium white

secondary · Payne's gray · Raw sienna

Mix blues and greys for the sky, adding white for highlights. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the buildings, lightening with white for sunlit areas and darkening with burnt umber for shadows.

techniques

·Layering
·Blending
·Scumbling
·Atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Not establishing a clear light source and shadow pattern.
→Using colors that are too saturated, losing the muted, atmospheric feel.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and ground.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Yellow ochre, Burnt umber, Titanium white, Payne's gray)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife