plate no. 5509

Autumn Day

oilExpressionismcityscapebuildingstreesskycityscapearchitecturewindows

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating texture with visible brushstrokes, and simplifying complex forms into basic shapes. It also offers practice in mixing muted colors and capturing the atmosphere of a specific time of day.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the tree, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: red for the large building, blue for the sky, and brown/green for the tree and foreground.
step 03
Start layering paint, using thicker brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 04
Mix variations of the main colors to add subtle shifts in tone and temperature.
step 05
Define the details of the windows and architectural elements with darker values.
step 06
Add the branches of the tree, using a thin brush and dark brown/black paint.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, paying attention to the interplay of light and shadow.
step 08
Add final highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · red · blue · brown · green

secondary · yellow · white · black

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (red and green, blue and orange) and adding white or black to adjust the value. Use a limited palette to create harmony.

techniques