plate no. 4372

Sliven

Dobri Dobrev, 1938

oilRealismlandscapemountainsbuildingscityscapeskytreesfigures

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmospheric perspective, as well as simplifying complex shapes into basic forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, buildings, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light wash of yellow and white, adding hints of gray.
step 03
Establish the mountain range with a base layer of ochre and burnt sienna, varying the tones for depth.
step 04
Paint the rooftops with a mix of red, orange, and brown, creating variations in color and value.
step 05
Add the buildings, using a light ochre and white mix for the sunlit areas and darker tones for the shadows.
step 06
Introduce the trees with greens, browns, and yellows, using broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and foreground elements.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall depth and realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · raw umber · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the mountains. Use white to lighten the colors for highlights and raw umber to darken for shadows. Mix red and sienna for the rooftops.

techniques