plate no. 9102

Old House

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1926

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingarchitecturearchwayskystepsplants

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting light and shadow, as well as creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing architectural details and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the archway and the building within.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the sky and the large areas of the building with appropriate colors.
step 04
Start building up layers of color, paying attention to the variations in tone and hue.
step 05
Add details to the building, such as the door, windows, and architectural elements.
step 06
Refine the archway, capturing the texture and form of the stone.
step 07
Add the plants and other details in the foreground.
step 08
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the warm whites of the building. Vary the blues with white and umber to create the sky and shadows. Use red and green sparingly for accents.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·impasto
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushwork.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and tone.
→Making the shadows too dark or the highlights too bright.
→Not establishing a clear focal point.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits