plate no. 5252

The Griboedov Canal in St.Petersburg

Konstantin Gorbatov, 1919

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingscanaltreesskycityscapesnow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing the texture of snow and buildings using broken color and visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in rendering reflections in water.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the perspective of the canal and buildings.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the vanishing point.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: sky, buildings, water, and snow-covered surfaces.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, focusing on the windows and architectural features.
step 05
Develop the texture of the snow using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the reflections in the water, paying attention to color and value.
step 07
Add the trees, using a variety of blues and purples to suggest the snow on the branches.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · purple

Mix greens for the water by combining blue and yellow. Achieve the snow colors by mixing white with small amounts of blue, purple, and yellow ochre. Use burnt umber and white for the buildings.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brush
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details, leading to a stiff and unnatural look.
→Failing to establish a strong sense of perspective.
→Using too much pure white for the snow, resulting in a flat and unrealistic appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the reflections.