plate no. 6674

Tbilisi. Maidan

Ilya Mashkov, 1920

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsarchitecturehillsskyurban

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow, and in simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes of the buildings and hills, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash, adding hints of white for clouds.
step 03
Establish the basic color tones for the hills and buildings using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the buildings, focusing on capturing the light and shadow patterns.
step 05
Add details to the architectural elements, such as windows, balconies, and rooftops.
step 06
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 07
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the overall balance of the painting.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · titanium white · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones of the buildings. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky. Create variations in color by adding small amounts of red or green to the base colors.

techniques

·broken color
·scumbling
·layering
·color mixing
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early
→Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones
→Ignoring the overall light and shadow patterns
→Failing to simplify complex shapes

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red)
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brushes (#6, #8)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil