plate no. 3900

The Amsterdam Port

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, 1913

woodcutPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingswaterboatsskycityscapereflections

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing reflections in water and simplifying complex architectural forms into basic shapes. It also encourages experimentation with visible brushstrokes to create texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, boats, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and buildings using diluted washes.
step 03
Establish the darkest values in the buildings and boats.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the windows and rooflines.
step 05
Create reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes of the buildings above.
step 06
Add highlights to the water and boats to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the brushwork, using short, broken strokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw umber

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue to create the dark browns and grays for the buildings and water. Use yellow ochre and white to create the lighter tones in the sky and reflections. Add small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the browns and greens.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Making the reflections too perfect and symmetrical, which can look unnatural.
→Using too much detail in the background buildings, which can flatten the composition.
→Not establishing a strong value range, which can make the painting look flat and lifeless.