plate no. 7346

Lenin in Razliv in 1917

oilSymbolismportraitfigureskycloudslandscapewatersunset

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 capturing the likeness of a figure within a landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color in the sky, using thin washes.
step 03
Establish the dark values of the figure and the foreground.
step 04
Begin layering colors in the sky to create the sunset effect, blending carefully.
step 05
Add details to the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Develop the texture of the foreground with visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details in the water and the distant landscape.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · viridian green · raw umber

Achieve the sky colors by mixing blues, yellows, and oranges with white for highlights and purples for shadows. Use raw umber and viridian green to create the dark tones of the figure and foreground.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the sky and losing the luminosity of the sunset.
→Creating a flat, lifeless figure by neglecting the subtle variations in value.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of depth in the landscape.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a harsh, unnatural look.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium orange, viridian green, raw umber)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags