plate no. 3348

Berglandschaft mit Häusern

Alexej von Jawlensky, 1912

oilExpressionismlandscapemountainshouseslandscapebuildingssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and explore expressive color relationships to convey mood. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains and houses, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the mountains, sky, and foreground, using thinned paint.
step 03
Establish the dark shadows under the mountains and on the houses, using a mix of dark green and blue.
step 04
Add the main colors of the houses, varying the tones slightly to create depth.
step 05
Define the shapes of the windows and roofs with darker colors.
step 06
Add small details like the chimney and the cross, using a fine brush.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final touches of color to the sky and foreground to balance the composition.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber

secondary · Cadmium red · Viridian green · Titanium white

Mix dark greens and blues for the shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber for the houses, adding white to lighten the tones. Mix red with umber for the roof details.

techniques