plate no. 5077

View of Genoese fortress in Sudak

Ilya Mashkov, 1917

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapemountainslandscapearchitecturebuildingskyfortress

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for light and shadow and using expressive brushstrokes to create texture and form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: mountains, fortress, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky and distant mountain ranges with broad strokes.
step 03
Establish the basic color blocks for the landscape, using a mix of greens, yellows, and browns.
step 04
Define the shapes of the buildings and the large rock formation, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the buildings and fortress, using smaller brushstrokes and darker values.
step 06
Develop the foreground with textured brushstrokes, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, ensuring a harmonious balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium yellow

secondary · viridian green · alizarin crimson · titanium white

Mix greens by combining yellow and blue, and create earth tones by mixing burnt sienna with yellow ochre and blue. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the interplay of warm and cool colors.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, viridian green, alizarin crimson, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags