plate no. 7754

Murnau am Staffelsee

Wassily Kandinsky, 1908

oilExpressionismcityscapelakemountainsbuildingstreesreflectioncityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and creating expressive brushstrokes to depict a landscape. It also provides practice in capturing reflections and simplifying complex forms.

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 mountains, buildings, and lake, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of dark blue, adding lighter blues and yellows for highlights.
step 03
Paint the mountains using dark blues and purples, blending slightly for a sense of depth.
step 04
Add the dark green mass of trees, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Paint the buildings with warm browns, oranges, and reds, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the reflection in the lake by mirroring the colors and shapes of the buildings and trees, using slightly blurred strokes.
step 07
Add the foreground vegetation with vertical strokes of green, purple, and yellow.
step 08
Refine details and add highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · titanium white

Mix various shades of blue and purple for the mountains. Use burnt umber and alizarin crimson for the buildings. Mix greens from yellow and blue, and add white to lighten colors for highlights.

techniques