plate no. 1968

Square San-Fernando in Seville

Vasily Surikov, 1910

oil, canvasRealismcityscapecityscapepalm treesbuildingsfigurescarriagesstreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve realistic light and shadow, as well as practice creating depth through atmospheric perspective and varying brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, buildings, and major shapes of the street.
step 02
Establish the sky with a thin layer of blue, blending towards the horizon.
step 03
Block in the large areas of the buildings with light, warm tones, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Paint the street using a mix of warm and cool grays, varying the tones to create depth and perspective.
step 05
Add the palm trees, starting with the trunks and then building up the foliage with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Introduce the figures and carriages, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and trees, adding small highlights and shadows to create texture and interest.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the colors as needed to achieve a harmonious overall effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix various shades of gray for the street by combining white, umber, and a touch of blue or crimson. Create the greens for the palm trees by mixing blue, yellow, and umber.

techniques