plate no. 3768

Sergiev Posad

Aristarkh Lentulov, 1922

oilRealismcityscapecityscapebuildingsskycloudsfiguresarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, expressive brushwork, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It's also a good exercise in capturing light and shadow using bold strokes.

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 of the buildings and landscape, focusing on composition.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the sky and background.
step 03
Build up layers of color, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to define forms.
step 04
Mix variations of red, blue, and green to create the different hues in the buildings and landscape.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and architectural elements.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian green · titanium white · burnt umber

Mix red and yellow for the warm tones of the buildings, blue and white for the sky, and green and brown for the foliage. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques