plate no. 3349

Street in Munich

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, 1901

oilSymbolismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetfigureshadowsnight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating a mood using a limited color palette. It also provides practice in rendering simple figures and architectural forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the figure, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the sky and shadows.
step 03
Begin adding color to the buildings, starting with the warm tones of the building on the left.
step 04
Gradually build up the details of the buildings, including the windows and architectural features.
step 05
Add the figure, focusing on its silhouette and the way it interacts with the light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the details of the street and the shadows, paying attention to the way the light reflects off the surface.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix burnt sienna and raw umber with ivory black and titanium white to create a range of warm and cool grays. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red light to add warmth to the buildings.

techniques