plate no. 9932

Tatar Women in Balcic

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapefigureshousesstreettrees

suitable for beginners

This painting is a great exercise in value studies and atmospheric perspective. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes and focus on tonal relationships to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and figures.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the basic layout of the cityscape.
step 03
Mix a light grey wash for the sky and distant buildings, applying it thinly.
step 04
Create progressively darker washes for the buildings in the foreground, using different dilutions of the same grey.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, with a slightly darker grey.
step 06
Paint the figures with a dark grey wash, paying attention to their form and posture.
step 07
Add shadows to the buildings and figures to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine details and adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · Payne's Gray · Titanium White

secondary · Raw Umber

Mix Payne's Gray with varying amounts of white to achieve different shades of grey. Add a touch of Raw Umber for warmth if desired.

techniques

·Value studies
·Atmospheric perspective
·Layering washes
·Dry brushing
·Simplification

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall tonal harmony.
→Making the values too similar, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.
→Ignoring the perspective and creating a distorted cityscape.
→Using too much water and creating muddy washes.

materials

surface · Watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Payne's Gray watercolor
·Titanium White watercolor
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels
·Pencil

optional

·Raw Umber watercolor
·Palette knife
·Masking fluid

Use a good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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