plate no. 9320
Mountains and Houses in the Snow
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1924
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and color blocking to represent a complex scene. It's a good exercise in capturing the essence of a landscape with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, houses, and trees, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a base color, a mix of blue and green.
- step 03
Apply the main colors for the mountains, using shades of white and blue, and indicating shadows.
- step 04
Paint the snow-covered areas, varying the shades of white with hints of blue and gray.
- step 05
Add the houses with their distinct orange and brown tones, paying attention to their placement and perspective.
- step 06
Paint the trees using dark browns and greens, simplifying their forms.
- step 07
Refine the details, such as the windows of the houses and the texture of the snow.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · raw umber
secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · cadmium orange
Mix white with blue for the snow and mountains. Use burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the houses. Add a touch of green to the blue for the sky.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·simplified forms
- ·limited palette
- ·impasto
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the details and losing the simplified style.
- →Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not capturing the correct proportions of the mountains and houses.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·#8 flat brush
- ·#4 round brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the brushstroke visibility. Consider using a limited palette to maintain color harmony.
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