plate no. 8944

Brücke über den Landwehrkanal

Lesser Ury, 1920

oilImpressionismcityscapetreeswaterbridgefigurecityscapecanal

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, and in using loose brushstrokes to suggest form rather than define it precisely. It's a good exercise in capturing the overall impression of a scene.

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 bridge, the trees, the path, and the figure.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, water, path, and foliage, using thin washes.
step 03
Add darker values to define the tree trunks and shadows on the path.
step 04
Layer lighter colors over the base washes to create highlights and variations in tone.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest the texture of the foliage and the surface of the water.
step 06
Add details to the bridge and the figure, keeping them simple and suggestive.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights to capture the light reflecting off the water and foliage.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix greens by blending blues and yellows, and create muted tones by adding small amounts of burnt umber. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·dry brushing
·atmospheric perspective
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to establish a clear value structure, resulting in a flat image.
→Not capturing the atmospheric perspective, making the background appear too sharp.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 12x16
·ultramarine blue oil paint
·yellow ochre oil paint
·burnt umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·round brushes (sizes 2, 6, 8)
·palette
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium (e.g., Liquin)
·easel

Use a medium-tooth canvas to allow for good paint adhesion and texture. Consider pre-toning the canvas with a thin wash of burnt umber to create a warm underpainting.

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