plate no. 0777

Nina in San Pau

Dmitri Zhilinsky, 1990

oilContemporary Realismcityscapebuildingstowermountainsfigurestreetsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in perspective, color mixing for natural light, and capturing architectural details with simplified forms. It also introduces the concept of creating depth using atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, tower, and mountains.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and vanishing points to guide the perspective.
step 03
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, mountains, and buildings using thin washes.
step 04
Mix and apply the base colors for the buildings, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and roof tiles, using thicker paint.
step 06
Paint the figures in the scene, simplifying their forms and focusing on their gestures.
step 07
Refine the details of the landscape, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the colors and values as needed to create a cohesive composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining raw umber, titanium white, and small amounts of other colors. Achieve the sky color by mixing cerulean blue with white and a touch of yellow ochre. Create the mountain color by mixing cerulean blue, yellow ochre, and raw umber.

techniques