plate no. 0332

Old Yerevan, Kond

Petros Malayan, 1973

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingshousesarchitectureurbanhillside

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating depth through atmospheric perspective and understanding how to simplify complex architectural forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in mixing muted and earthy color tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and perspective lines of the buildings, focusing on overall composition.
step 02
Establish a light underpainting with a diluted warm gray wash to create a base tone.
step 03
Begin layering darker values on the buildings to define their forms and create shadows.
step 04
Mix a range of muted greens and browns to represent the foliage and architectural details.
step 05
Gradually build up the details of the buildings, adding windows, doors, and textures with small brushstrokes.
step 06
Use lighter values to suggest highlights and create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add the clothesline and hanging clothes with thin lines and subtle variations in white and gray.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches to enhance the painting's mood and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix raw umber and white for the base tones of the buildings. Add burnt sienna and yellow ochre to warm up certain areas. Use Payne's gray to create shadows and muted greens by mixing with sap green.

techniques

·atmospheric perspective
·layering
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the painting's muted palette.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of depth and perspective.
→Making the buildings too uniform, which can create a flat and uninteresting composition.