plate no. 2062
Landscape with Sunset
Paul Klee, 1923
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students understand color relationships and how to create a sense of depth using subtle value changes. It also encourages simplification of forms into geometric shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the houses and landscape.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of burnt umber to the entire canvas as a base layer.
- step 03
Begin filling in the larger shapes with the dominant orange and red hues, varying the tones slightly.
- step 04
Add the darker brown and green areas, focusing on creating a patchwork effect.
- step 05
Introduce the lighter yellow and cream colors to represent light and highlights.
- step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the houses and landscape elements.
- step 07
Add small details like windows and subtle variations in color.
- step 08
Apply a final glaze of burnt umber to unify the painting and create a warm glow.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · cadmium red · yellow ochre
secondary · viridian green · raw umber
Mix different shades of orange by combining red, yellow, and a touch of brown. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix green with brown to create muted, earthy tones.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the colors and losing the subtle variations.
- →Making the shapes too precise and losing the abstract quality.
- →Using colors that are too saturated and not blending them effectively.
- →Neglecting the importance of the initial burnt umber wash.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·viridian green oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (small flats and rounds)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use good quality oil paints for best results. A medium-textured canvas will help create a more interesting surface.
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