plate no. 4403

Landscape with a steam locomotive

Wassily Kandinsky, 1909

oil, canvasExpressionismlandscapelandscapetraintreesskyhillsbuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and expressive color choices. It also provides practice in layering colors and creating depth with simplified shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the landscape: hills, trees, train, and sky.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: purple sky, green hills, dark trees.
step 03
Add the white clouds and steam using thick brushstrokes.
step 04
Define the train and buildings with simplified shapes and colors.
step 05
Introduce secondary colors like pink and yellow to add interest.
step 06
Refine the details, such as the foliage and the train's features.
step 07
Add small highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Step back and adjust the composition and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · sap green · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · dioxazine purple

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Create muted tones by adding small amounts of complementary colors. Achieve the purple sky by mixing blue and crimson.

techniques