plate no. 8672

The Potemkin Stairs

Sergey Ryabchenko, 1961

paper, linocutRealismcityscapecityscapestairspeopleshipswatersky

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students understand layering techniques and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It will also teach them about creating depth using color and value variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the composition, focusing on the stairs, the figures, and the ships in the background.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the perspective of the stairs.
step 03
Apply the base color (light green) to the entire canvas.
step 04
Start layering darker greens to define the shadows and shapes of the trees, buildings, and figures.
step 05
Add lighter greens and yellows to highlight the sunlit areas of the stairs and the tree trunk.
step 06
Use blues and greens to create the water and sky, using lighter tones for the sky and darker tones for the water.
step 07
Add details to the ships and cranes in the background using a fine brush.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches to the figures and the foreground elements.