plate no. 6952
Church in Unterach on the Attersee
Gustav Klimt, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with visible brushstrokes and capturing reflections in water. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve subtle variations in tone.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, church, and trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, water, buildings, and foliage.
- step 03
Begin adding layers of color to the buildings, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 04
Develop the foliage by layering different shades of green and yellow, using a stippling or dabbing technique.
- step 05
Create the reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes of the buildings and trees, but with a slightly blurred and distorted effect.
- step 06
Add details to the church, such as the windows and architectural features.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting the colors and values as needed.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · viridian green · titanium white · raw umber
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · lemon yellow
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and viridian green. Create variations in the building colors by mixing white with small amounts of umber, red, and yellow. Achieve the water reflections by diluting the primary colors with white and adding touches of blue.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·pointillism
- ·scumbling
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy effect.
- →Neglecting the importance of layering colors to create depth.
- →Ignoring the reflections in the water, which are crucial to the composition.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform, which can flatten the image.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use a medium-grain canvas to enhance the texture of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette of colors to simplify the mixing process.
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