plate no. 7008

Women and bicycles

Yuriy Khymych, 1983

gouachePost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingsfigurescityscapemountainsbicyclessky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a cohesive composition. It also encourages experimentation with expressive brushstrokes to convey texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: towers, hills, buildings, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue wash.
step 03
Establish the basic colors for the towers and hills using browns and purples.
step 04
Paint the buildings with white and light grays, adding blue shadows.
step 05
Add the blue structure in the foreground, paying attention to the lattice pattern.
step 06
Paint the figures with simple shapes and colors.
step 07
Add details like windows, doors, and bicycles.
step 08
Refine the brushstrokes and add final touches to enhance texture and depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Mix browns by combining burnt umber and ultramarine blue. Create grays by mixing white with small amounts of blue and umber. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red sparingly for accents.

techniques