plate no. 1199

Grinzing

Richard Gerstl, 1906

oilPost-Impressionismlandscapelandscapehillsbuildingtreesskyfence

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and using visible brushstrokes to build texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex landscapes into basic shapes.

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 hills, building, and trees, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of light yellow and grey.
step 03
Establish the main color masses for the hills and fields using broad brushstrokes of green, yellow ochre, and brown.
step 04
Add the basic shape and color of the building, keeping it simple and slightly muted.
step 05
Paint the trees in the foreground, focusing on their branching structure and using a mix of red, brown, and white for the foliage.
step 06
Add details to the fence and other foreground elements, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the colors and values throughout the painting, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · sap green · titanium white

secondary · burnt umber · cadmium red light · grey

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and sap green. Create muted tones by adding small amounts of burnt umber to other colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights.

techniques

·broken color
·layering
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating overly saturated colors that don't match the muted tones of the original.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
→Making the building too prominent and distracting from the overall landscape.