plate no. 9192

Neva before the storm

Arkady Rylov, 1916

oilSymbolismlandscapelakecloudstreesboatlandscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to mix muted color palettes. It also provides practice in depicting reflections on water and creating depth with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major elements like the lake, trees, and clouds.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of the dominant purple hue across the canvas.
step 03
Block in the sky with varying shades of purple and gray, creating the cloud formations with loose brushstrokes.
step 04
Paint the distant landmasses with darker purples and greens, softening the edges to create atmospheric perspective.
step 05
Develop the water surface with horizontal brushstrokes, reflecting the colors of the sky and land.
step 06
Add the foreground elements, such as the trees and foliage, using darker greens and browns.
step 07
Introduce the boat as a small dark shape in the water, paying attention to its reflection.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · dioxazine purple · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · sap green · burnt umber · yellow ochre

Mix purples by combining dioxazine purple with ultramarine blue and titanium white. Create muted greens by mixing sap green with burnt umber. Use yellow ochre to warm up the purple tones.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Using pure colors without mixing, resulting in an unnatural look.
→Ignoring the atmospheric perspective, making the distant elements appear too sharp.