plate no. 6847

Winter at Old Kiev

Tetyana Yablonska, 1976

oil, canvasImpressionismlandscapewinterlandscapesnowcityscapebuildingstrees

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and creating depth through subtle color variations. It will also provide practice in rendering complex scenes with simplified forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the hills, buildings, and skyline, focusing on the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the sky with a light, cool gray wash, blending it smoothly.
step 03
Block in the large areas of snow-covered hills, using varying shades of white mixed with blues and purples to indicate shadows and depth.
step 04
Add the darker tones of the trees and buildings, paying attention to their placement and relative size to create perspective.
step 05
Refine the details of the buildings and trees, using smaller brushes to add texture and definition.
step 06
Introduce subtle color variations in the snow to suggest light and shadow, using thin glazes of color.
step 07
Soften edges and blend areas to create a sense of atmosphere and distance.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber

secondary · burnt sienna · purple · yellow ochre

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber to create the various shades of snow. Use burnt sienna and umber for the buildings, and mix blues and purples for shadows.

techniques