plate no. 8255

Full Moon & Silence

Karl Schrag, 1980

oilExpressionismlandscapetreesmoonskyforestlandscapenight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and layering colors to create depth and atmosphere. It also encourages experimentation with color mixing to achieve a moody, nocturnal effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the trees and the moon's position.
step 02
Establish the dark background of the sky and the overall value structure.
step 03
Block in the main color masses for the trees, using dark blues, greens, and browns.
step 04
Add highlights and variations within the trees using lighter greens, yellows, and reds.
step 05
Create the moon using white and light grey, blending the edges for a soft glow.
step 06
Develop the foreground with textured brushstrokes, using a mix of greens, browns, and grays.
step 07
Refine the details and add final touches to enhance the expressiveness of the brushwork.
step 08
Check the overall balance of light and dark and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Sap Green · Burnt Umber · Titanium White

secondary · Cadmium Yellow · Alizarin Crimson · Payne's Gray

Mix dark greens by combining Prussian Blue and Sap Green. Create muted tones by adding Payne's Gray to other colors. Achieve the moon's glow by blending white with small amounts of grey and blue.

techniques

·Impasto
·Dry brushing
·Color layering
·Scumbling
·Broken color

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, leading to a flat texture.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a lack of harmony.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Sap Green, Burnt Umber, Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Payne's Gray)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags