plate no. 4229

Moscow. Smolensky boulevard. Study

Wassily Kandinsky, 1916

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingssnowwinterskytrees

some experience helpful

This painting is good for practicing loose brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and landscape, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, leaving some areas for clouds.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the buildings and trees using a mix of blues, greens, and reds.
step 04
Add the snow using white mixed with blues and yellows, varying the tones to create depth.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the snow and foliage.
step 06
Define the edges of the buildings and trees with slightly darker or lighter tones.
step 07
Add details like windows and branches with a smaller brush.
step 08
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · yellow ochre

Mix blues and whites for the sky and snow shadows. Use reds and greens to create the darker tones in the buildings and trees. Add yellow ochre to warm up the whites and blues.

techniques