plate no. 1961

Garden in Winter

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, 1969

oilExpressionismlandscapetreeswaterbuildinglandscapereflectionwinter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in loose watercolor washes and capturing reflections in water. It also encourages expressive mark-making to depict a winter landscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: trees, building, and water line.
step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to blend with the paper.
step 03
Paint the tree branches with a mix of brown and black, using quick, expressive strokes.
step 04
Add the orange and yellow tones for the trees and reflections, varying the intensity.
step 05
Use a darker blue and purple mix for the water and shadows, creating depth.
step 06
Define the building with a red roof and simple window shapes.
step 07
Add details to the foreground with darker tones to create contrast.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely and add final touches.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for darker browns and grays. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warmer tones in the trees and reflections. Dilute colors with water for lighter washes.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·dry brush texture
·color layering
·expressive brushstrokes
·negative painting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Using too much water, which can cause the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
→Not allowing each layer to dry before applying the next, resulting in muddy colors.
→Being too precise with the details, which can detract from the overall impression.