plate no. 7748

Gelmeroda III

Lyonel Feininger, 1913

oilCubismcityscapechurcharchitecturebuildingsskycityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand geometric abstraction and how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes. It also provides practice in color mixing and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic geometric shapes of the church and surrounding buildings, focusing on proportions and angles.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the lightest values and gradually adding darker tones.
step 03
Mix a range of blues and grays to create the subtle variations in the sky and architectural details.
step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the edges of the shapes and create a sense of texture.
step 05
Pay attention to the overlapping planes and how they create depth in the composition.
step 06
Add the darkest values to create contrast and define the focal point.
step 07
Refine the details of the church, such as the windows and doorways.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a harmonious balance.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Payne's gray

secondary · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber · Alizarin crimson

Mix blues and whites to create a range of cool grays. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or burnt umber to warm the grays. Use alizarin crimson to create subtle pink tones in the sky.

techniques