plate no. 7004

Tatar street in Yalta. Night.

Konstantín Korovin, 1910

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsnightfiguresstreetlight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to depict light and shadow in a night scene and practice loose, expressive brushwork to create atmosphere. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of buildings and figures.
step 02
Establish the overall dark value of the night sky and surrounding areas using a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the buildings and figures.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the architectural elements and windows.
step 05
Develop the figures in the street, using quick, gestural brushstrokes to suggest movement and activity.
step 06
Refine the areas of light, paying attention to the warm glow emanating from the buildings.
step 07
Add highlights and details to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · raw sienna

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark night tones. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create the warm light emanating from the buildings. Add white to lighten values and create subtle color variations.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·value studies
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the brushwork.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and unconvincing night scene.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Ignoring the importance of edges and transitions between light and shadow.