plate no. 0453

Houses on the Town Square in Klosterneuberg

Egon Schiele, 1908

oil, canvasImpressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapearchitectureskytrees

some experience helpful

This painting is great for learning how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and how to use a limited palette to create a harmonious color scheme. Students will also practice expressive brushwork to convey texture and form.

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 buildings, trees, and sky, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of light purple/pink, using broad brushstrokes.
step 03
Establish the main color blocks for the buildings using a warm orange/yellow mix, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 04
Add the darker tones to the roofs and shadowed areas of the buildings, using a mix of purple and brown.
step 05
Paint the trees with a mix of greens and browns, using vertical brushstrokes to suggest foliage.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings, such as windows and architectural elements, with smaller brushes.
step 07
Add highlights to the buildings and trees to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Review and adjust the colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive and expressive painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the warm building tones. Use ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson for purples in the sky and shadows. Mix viridian green with burnt sienna to create muted greens for the trees.

techniques

·blocking in
·expressive brushwork
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive brushstrokes.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a flat and uninteresting palette.
→Ignoring the importance of value contrast and creating a painting that lacks depth.
→Getting bogged down in precise rendering of details instead of capturing the overall impression.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson, viridian green, titanium white)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·rags