plate no. 2882
Mount Niesen
Paul Klee, 1915
suitable for beginners
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering washes, and simplifying complex scenes into geometric forms. It also encourages experimentation with abstract representation.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes: the mountain, the horizon line, and the general placement of the vertical elements.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of blue for the sky, allowing it to vary in intensity.
- step 03
Paint the mountain with a darker blue wash, building up layers to create depth.
- step 04
Begin filling in the vertical shapes with various colors, keeping the shapes simple and distinct.
- step 05
Add details to the vertical shapes, such as the dotted patterns and variations in color.
- step 06
Paint the foreground with a light wash of tan or ochre.
- step 07
Add the moon, star, and eye details in the sky with a fine brush.
- step 08
Refine the edges and add any final touches to balance the composition.
color palette
primary · Prussian blue · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber
secondary · Red · Green · Violet
Mix blues with small amounts of red or yellow to create variations in the sky and mountain. Use yellow ochre as a base for many of the earth tones, mixing it with red, brown, and green.
techniques
- ·Layering washes
- ·Color mixing
- ·Simplified shapes
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the colors and losing the transparency of the washes.
- →Making the shapes too detailed or complex.
- →Not allowing the washes to dry completely before adding subsequent layers.
- →Using too much water and causing the colors to bleed excessively.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 90lb or 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor paper 90lb or 140lb
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brush
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
- ·Watercolor pencils
Use good quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varied textures.
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