Petersburg Through the Years course with Vladimir Zarutsky

Lesson 3

Top 5 Mistakes When Painting Urban Watercolors

In this lesson, we’ll go over five common mistakes people often make when painting urban watercolors.

Lesson 5

Lively Nevsky Prospect

Duration — 1 hour 45 minutes

1980s Petersburg: a yellow trolleybus glides down the avenue, adding a touch of nostalgia. The cars blend in perfectly with the buildings, never distracting from the story. The crowd brings the scene to life — people are rushing, traffic keeps moving. In this lesson, we’ll paint a retro scene and capture the vibe of that era.

In this lesson, we’ll learn:

• the technique of painting on pre-wetted paper;
• how to paint the sky with an even wash;
• how to paint a building in light and shadow;
• how to paint brightly lit vehicles;
• how to paint the movement of a city crowd.

Lesson 7

Nevsky Prospect in the 1960s

Duration — 1 hour 25 minutes

Nevsky Prospect in the 1960s — a lively street with slow-moving vintage cars. A blue trolleybus stands out, leaving behind a trail of memories. Let’s paint this scene of old Petersburg.

In this lesson we'll learn how to:

• paint a lively street;
• paint sunlit buildings;
• paint old vehicles.

Lesson 9

The Majestic Saint Isaac’s Cathedral

Duration — 1 hour 5 minutes

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in Saint Petersburg is an outstanding architectural landmark with its domes and columns, a true symbol of the city. In this lesson, we’ll paint it, capturing its monumentality and grandeur.

In this lesson we'll learn how to:

• translate an image into the language of watercolor;
• simplify what you see, try to spot the big shapes;
• figure out the value, how it changes between the foreground and the background;
• keep an eye on the moisture and notice how it changes at different stages of your painting;
• use some abstract vision techniques.

Lesson 11

A Summer Day by the Peter and Paul Fortress

Duration — 1 hour 10 minutes

A summer day in Saint Petersburg. Sunlight floods Kuybysheva Street, and you can see the Peter and Paul Fortress in the distance. A tram is making its way down the road, bringing rhythm and movement to the city. In this lesson, we’ll capture the vibe where past and present come together to create the city’s unique charm.

In this lesson we'll learn how to:

• paint street perspective;
• paint the golden parts of the architecture with highlights and reflections;
• paint tree foliage in a simple, straightforward way.

Lesson 13

Evening on Kamennoostrovsky Prospect

Duration — 1 hour 40 minutes

Kamennoostrovsky Prospect is truly unique — it’s where different eras and cultures come together. The buildings here are like architectural landmarks, giving the street its one-of-a-kind vibe. In our lesson, we’ll highlight its many sides: the lively city life and the stunning historic architecture.

In this lesson we'll learn how to:

• show atmospheric and linear perspective;
• paint moving vehicles;
• make your painting pop with a bold splash of color;
• add a little accent that gives your artwork some charm.

Lesson 15

Picnic on the Field of Mars

Duration — 1 hour

In summer, the Field of Mars is a green little spot with walkways and the scent of flowers in the air. Sunbeams dance on the grass, and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood fits right in with the landscape. Its domes shine, making it look like they’re glowing. In this lesson, we’ll create a summer painting with touches of both nature and architecture.

In this lesson we'll learn how to:

• paint the green of the trees and the green of the grass;
• paint soft rim light;
• paint light clouds so you don’t break up the unity of the landscape.