plate no. 0137

Lake Lucerne-Morning

Lovis Corinth, 1924

oilExpressionismmarinalakeboatsmountainsskybuildingswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and reflections on water using expressive brushstrokes and understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, indicating the horizon line, the position of the boats, and the mountain range.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of diluted blue and green to establish the overall color tone of the water and sky.
step 03
Block in the larger shapes of the mountains and buildings using broad strokes of dark greens, browns, and grays.
step 04
Start building up the water with short, choppy strokes of blues, greens, and whites, following the direction of the waves.
step 05
Add details to the boats, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes to create form and texture.
step 06
Introduce highlights and reflections on the water and boats using lighter shades of the base colors.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and mountains, adding small touches of color and texture to create visual interest.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Sap Green

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Umber · Cadmium Red Light

Mix blues and greens with white to create the various shades of water and sky. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create earth tones for the mountains and buildings. Add small amounts of red to create warmer tones.

techniques