plate no. 7475

Willows near Novosilviysky Bridge

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, 1923

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapetreesbridgewaterlandscapearchitecturefoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in linework, creating depth through varying line thickness, and understanding positive and negative space. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the trees, bridge, and water to establish the composition.
step 02
Define the horizon line and the overall layout of the scene.
step 03
Begin filling in the larger areas of black, focusing on the tree masses and the dark areas under the bridge.
step 04
Add details to the trees using varying line weights and directions to create texture and depth.
step 05
Define the bridge structure with clear, precise lines, paying attention to the individual stones.
step 06
Create the water's reflection using vertical lines, varying their thickness and spacing to suggest movement.
step 07
Add details to the foreground and background, using smaller lines and dots to create texture and depth.
step 08
Refine the overall image, adjusting line weights and adding small details to enhance the composition.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

This is a black and white image, so no color mixing is needed.

techniques

·linework
·hatching
·cross-hatching
·stippling
·positive and negative space

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the linework, making the image appear cluttered.
→Not varying line weights, resulting in a flat, undynamic image.
→Ignoring the importance of negative space, leading to a lack of clarity.
→Failing to simplify complex forms, making the image appear too detailed and confusing.