plate no. 3794

The city of Constantine

Kuzmá Petrov-Vodkin, 1907

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsmarketfigureshillssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a sense of atmosphere. It's also good practice for capturing light and shadow in a loose, impressionistic style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, hills, and market stalls, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the blue-grey of the buildings, the green of the hills, and the warm tones of the market and foreground.
step 04
Start adding details to the buildings, such as windows and roof lines, using slightly darker and lighter shades of blue-grey.
step 05
Develop the market stalls, paying attention to the patterns of light and shadow on the awnings and figures.
step 06
Add details to the foreground, including the fence and any figures or animals.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna

Mix ultramarine blue with white to create the various shades of blue-grey for the buildings. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the warm tones of the market stalls and foreground. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques