plate no. 3088

Autumn in Bavaria

Wassily Kandinsky, 1908

oil, cardboardExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreespathbuildingsautumnfoliage

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition: the path, the wall, the trees, and the building in the background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the path, the trees, and the wall.
step 03
Start adding layers of color to create depth and texture in the trees and foliage, using short, visible brushstrokes.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the path and the wall to create a sense of form.
step 05
Add details to the building in the background, keeping it simple and slightly blurred.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes and add any final touches to the colors and textures.
step 07
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting.
step 08
Make any necessary adjustments to the colors, values, or composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · sap green

secondary · titanium white · burnt umber · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve variations in the foliage by adding small amounts of red or white to the green. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·color layering
·alla prima
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which can result in a muddy or flat appearance.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, which can make the painting look monotonous.
→Getting bogged down in details too early, before establishing the basic composition and colors.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them, which can make the painting look unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, sap green, titanium white, burnt umber)
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags or paper towels