plate no. 2963

Moscow. Zubovskaya Square. Study.

Wassily Kandinsky, 1916

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsskycloudsstreetfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using color to create depth and atmosphere. It also encourages expressive brushwork and experimentation with color mixing.

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, clouds, and street layout, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, leaving space for the clouds.
step 03
Paint the large cloud shapes with white, adding touches of blue and gray for shadows.
step 04
Begin blocking in the colors of the buildings, using simplified shapes and color variations.
step 05
Add the street and foreground, using yellow and blue to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Define the details of the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, with darker colors.
step 07
Add small figures and cars to the street scene using quick, gestural brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, paying attention to the overall harmony.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix various shades of blue and gray for the sky and clouds. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm tones for the buildings. Mix blue and yellow for greens.

techniques

·blocking in
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Not simplifying the shapes of the buildings and objects, making the painting look cluttered.
→Ignoring the color temperature and value relationships, leading to a lack of depth.