plate no. 6613
Street in Yalta
Isaac Levitan, 1886
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the effects of light and shadow on a landscape. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, the road, and the figure.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and the road, using thin washes.
- step 03
Establish the basic values of the buildings and the hill, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add the trees and other vegetation, using a variety of greens and blues.
- step 05
Refine the details of the buildings, including the windows, doors, and roofs.
- step 06
Paint the figure in the street, paying attention to its proportions and placement.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to create depth and interest.
- step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition and color balance.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of yellow ochre and white for the road and buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Mix greens with viridian green, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·broken color
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat painting.
- →Using too much detail in the background, which can flatten the perspective.
- →Not paying attention to the color temperature of the light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 12x16
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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