plate no. 6282

Underwater. Illustration for the epic "Volga"

Ivan Bilibin, 1928

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)illustrationfishboatwavesseafiguresclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating stylized illustrations with flat color and decorative elements, as well as understanding composition with multiple focal points.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the fish, boat, and wave elements.
step 02
Outline the major shapes and details of the fish and boat.
step 03
Apply base colors to each area: green for the background, beige/yellow for the fish, red for the sail, and blue for the water.
step 04
Add details to the fish, such as scales, fins, and decorative elements.
step 05
Paint the boat and figures, paying attention to the stylized shapes.
step 06
Create the wave patterns with white and light blue.
step 07
Add clouds and islands in the background.
step 08
Outline all shapes with a thin dark line to define the forms.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · emerald green · red · sky blue

secondary · white · dark green · light blue · tan

Mix light and dark shades of green for the background. Use white to lighten the blue for the waves and clouds. Mix yellow ochre with white to create highlights on the fish.

techniques