plate no. 0344

The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh

Mikhaïl Nesterov, 1920

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)mythological paintingfiguresforestwaterreflectionreligiouslandscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in painting figures in a landscape setting and using color to create a sense of atmosphere and depth. It also provides practice in rendering reflections in water and capturing the texture of foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the main elements of the landscape.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and working towards the foreground.
step 03
Develop the figures, paying attention to the drapery and the details of their clothing.
step 04
Add details to the landscape, such as the trees, foliage, and reflections in the water.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, adjusting the overall tone of the painting.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Pay attention to the details of the clothing and the faces of the figures.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · forest green · ivory · red · black

secondary · gold · brown · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Achieve the subtle greens by mixing yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and white. Create the earthy tones by combining burnt umber, sienna, and white.

techniques

·layering
·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
→Failing to create a convincing sense of depth.
→Inaccurate reflections in the water.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (forest green, ivory, red, black, gold, brown, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags