Small-Town Architecturewith Olga Kabaeva

Lesson 2

Materials Overview for Course

In this lesson we’ll go through all the materials you need to comfortably and successfully complete the course. I’ll show the watercolor paints, brushes, and paper I use myself, and I’ll talk about alternatives if your set is different.

Lesson 4

Painting en Plein Air

In this lesson we’ll talk about the most alive and honest way to paint — painting en Plein Air. I’ll show you my works done from life, tell the stories behind them, and share how to find inspiration in the most ordinary places: a city park, by the water, or just around the corner from your home.

Lesson 6

Red Church

Duration ~ 1 hour 20 minutes

In this lesson we’ll find ourselves in the very heart of Pereslavl-Zalessky and paint architecture nestled among the shadows of foliage and sunlit highlights on brick walls — lively and atmospheric, so the building breathes air, light, and color.

In the lesson:

• let’s go over how to convey color harmoniously in architecture;
• we’ll learn how to show sunlight and tree shadows;
• let’s practice painting architecture without strict constructions;
• let’s explore how to work with a red–green palette without color conflicts.

Lesson 8

Old Estate

Duration ~ 1 hour 55 minutes

In this lesson we’ll work on wooden architecture tucked into greenery. We’ll go over a two-point perspective setup to show the house in a gentle perspective. You’ll learn to render architecture in shadow — with light reflections from sunlit leaves — without losing the sense of volume.

In the lesson:

• we'll paint a wooden estate using two-point perspective;
• we'll render the architecture in shadow with green reflections;
• we’ll explore different shades of green without using ready-made green paints.

Lesson 10

Noon by Temple

Duration ~ 1 hour 50 minutes

In this lesson we’ll travel to one of the most picturesque towns of the Russian North — Vologda. We’ll paint a shady alley leading to a church, capture the soft sunlight, and learn how to build a composition where architecture blends harmoniously with nature.

In the lesson:

• let’s simplify complex architecture without losing its character;
• let’s practice arranging planes in a landscape;
• let’s work with sunlight and shadow;
• let’s explore techniques for painting trees using dry and wet methods.

Lesson 12

Optina Monastery

Duration ~ 1 hour 10 minutes

In this lesson we’ll work with morning or midday backlight — a rare but very expressive situation where architecture is lit from behind. It calls for careful handling of tone and color: you don’t want to “overload” the silhouettes, but you still need to keep them light and believable.

In the lesson:

• let’s learn how to work with backlighting in architecture;
• let’s practice painting the sky dry — with lively clouds;
• let’s figure out how to keep the form intact when working with white facades;
• let’s talk about working smart with photo references and choosing the right composition.