plate no. 6499

City of Churches

Paul Klee, 1918

pen, pencil, watercolor, paperCubismcityscapecityscapechurchesbuildingsmountainsarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in linear perspective, color blocking, and creating a sense of depth through overlapping forms and varying color saturation. It also encourages simplification of complex shapes into basic geometric forms.

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 buildings and mountains, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Divide the background into color blocks, using a ruler if desired for crisp edges.
step 03
Apply the base watercolor washes to each color block, allowing some areas to be more saturated than others.
step 04
Add a second layer of watercolor to the buildings, varying the colors slightly to create depth and shadow.
step 05
Use a fine-tipped pen to outline the buildings and add architectural details.
step 06
Add subtle shadows and highlights to the buildings with a slightly darker or lighter shade of watercolor.
step 07
Refine the pen lines, adding more detail to the focal point buildings.
step 08
Let dry completely.

color palette

primary · red · brown · black · white

secondary · green · yellow · pink · blue

Achieve the various shades of red and brown by mixing the primary colors with varying amounts of water. Use white to lighten the colors and black to darken them. Mix small amounts of complementary colors to create muted tones.

techniques