plate no. 0586

The Sunset on Volga. Nizhny Novgorod

Konstantin Yuon, 1911

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscaperiversunsetcityscapebuildingsskytrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color blending for atmospheric perspective and layering to create depth. It also provides practice in capturing the essence of a scene with loose, impressionistic brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line, river, and major landmarks.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes, blending from yellow/orange near the horizon to cooler tones above.
step 03
Establish the river's base color, reflecting the sky's hues and adding darker tones for depth.
step 04
Roughly define the cityscape with dark shapes, indicating buildings and structures.
step 05
Add details to the buildings, including windows, roofs, and architectural features.
step 06
Paint the trees and foliage in the foreground, using a variety of greens and browns.
step 07
Add highlights and reflections to the water to create a sense of movement and light.
step 08
Refine details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired atmospheric effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · viridian green · cadmium red

Achieve the sunset colors by blending yellows, oranges, and reds. Mix blues and whites for the sky and river reflections. Use umber and green for foliage.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·broken color
·atmospheric perspective
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking details in the cityscape, losing the impressionistic feel.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the subtle color variations in the sky and water.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective, resulting in a flat image.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, cadmium orange, ultramarine blue, titanium white, burnt umber, viridian green, cadmium red)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife