plate no. 7040

Landscape with Two Peasant Girls and a Rainbow

Konstantin Somov, 1918

oilSymbolismlandscapelandscapefiguresrainbowtreescloudsfield

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create a sense of depth and mood. It also provides practice in rendering figures within a landscape setting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, figures, trees, and the arc of the rainbow.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of color for the sky, field, and trees using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest and lightest values in the sky and foreground to create depth.
step 04
Begin layering colors in the sky to create the cloud formations and atmospheric effects.
step 05
Add details to the figures, paying attention to their form and clothing.
step 06
Refine the details of the trees and foliage, using varied brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Carefully paint the rainbow, blending the colors smoothly and accurately.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism and depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · sap green

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with white and small amounts of blue or red. The rainbow requires mixing vibrant hues, but keep them slightly muted to match the overall tone.

techniques