plate no. 5058

On the Volga

Boris Kustodiev, 1910

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapecityscaperiverbuildingsfiguresboatssky

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in depicting complex scenes with many elements, and in capturing atmospheric perspective through color and value variations. It also offers practice in rendering figures in motion and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main compositional elements: the horizon line, the river, the buildings on the hill, and the foreground figures.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, water, and land, using thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin adding details to the buildings and trees, focusing on their shapes and relative sizes.
step 04
Block in the colors for the figures and boats, paying attention to their placement and proportions.
step 05
Develop the foreground details, including the market stalls, figures, and textures of the ground.
step 06
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details, such as the architectural details of the buildings and the patterns on the figures' clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cerulean blue · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Mix greens by blending yellow ochre and cerulean blue, and create muted tones by adding burnt umber to the primary colors. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques