plate no. 7474

Houses at Unterach on the Attersee

Gustav Klimt, 1916

oil, canvasArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapehouseswatertreeslandscapebuildingslake

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors, creating texture with visible brushstrokes, and understanding how to represent reflections in water. It also encourages an expressive approach to depicting architectural forms and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the houses and landscape, focusing on their relative positions and sizes.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, water, and foliage using thinned paint.
step 03
Begin adding layers of color to the houses, starting with the base tones and gradually building up highlights and shadows.
step 04
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture in the foliage, varying the colors and values to suggest depth.
step 05
Develop the reflections in the water by mirroring the colors and shapes of the houses and trees, using horizontal strokes.
step 06
Add details to the houses, such as windows and doors, using a smaller brush.
step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting the colors and values as needed, ensuring a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the painting's vibrancy.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Yellow · Cadmium Red · Titanium White

secondary · Burnt Sienna · Viridian Green · Ultramarine Blue · Yellow Ochre

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, adjusting the proportions to achieve different shades. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix blues and browns to create the darker tones in the water and foliage.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken color
·Layering
·Scumbling
·Wet-on-dry

common pitfalls

→Overblending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Neglecting the importance of texture in the foliage and water.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth and perspective.
→Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall composition.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, Viridian Green, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits

optional