plate no. 0655

Market Square in Kraków

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapesnowbuildingsfigurestreessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the essence of a scene with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the buildings, tower, and the general area of the crowd.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic perspective of the square.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the snow-covered ground, and the buildings, using thin washes.
step 04
Start building up the details of the buildings, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Add the trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest their branches.
step 06
Paint the figures in the crowd with simple shapes and colors, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 07
Refine the details of the tower and the buildings, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches, such as small details in the snow and the sky.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix blues and whites for the sky and snow shadows. Use burnt umber and white for the buildings, adding touches of yellow ochre and red for warmth. Create muted tones by mixing complementary colors.

techniques