plate no. 5711

Gelbes Engelufer in Berlin

oilExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsrivertreesfiguresbridge

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes and using expressive brushstrokes to convey mood. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve a specific color harmony.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, river, and tree.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the yellow-orange sky and ground, and the dark blue river.
step 03
Add the darker tones to define the buildings and tree branches.
step 04
Introduce the lighter yellow highlights on the buildings and ground.
step 05
Paint the figures with simple, quick strokes.
step 06
Add details to the tree branches, using varied brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the edges and shapes of the buildings and river.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

secondary · black · titanium white

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm tones. Combine ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the dark blues and blacks. Add white to lighten colors.

techniques