plate no. 0347

Late August

Werner Berg, 1971

oilExpressionismlandscapebuildingsmountainsskyfieldtreesmoon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and atmosphere, as well as simplifying complex forms into basic 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 buildings, mountains, and horizon line.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light pinkish-gray tone.
step 03
Paint the mountains using varying shades of blue, creating depth through color changes.
step 04
Add the base colors for the buildings, using a light yellow-pink for the main structure and darker blues for the roofs.
step 05
Block in the field with a base of brown and yellow.
step 06
Add the trees and other vegetation, using simplified shapes and colors.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings, including windows and architectural elements.
step 08
Add the moon and any final details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix the mountain blues by combining ultramarine with white and small amounts of other colors to shift the hue. The building's pink is achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red light.

techniques

·color layering
·simplified shapes
·atmospheric perspective
·blocking in
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the shapes of the buildings and mountains.
→Using too much detail in the foreground, which can flatten the perspective.
→Not creating enough contrast between the different planes of the landscape.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing, resulting in a less harmonious palette.