plate no. 0882

Night landscape with the Gas Plant Schlieren

Max Gubler, 1951

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapecityscapeskycloudsbuildingsmoon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and simplified color mixing to capture a mood. It also encourages experimentation with layering and creating depth through color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, noting the horizon line and placement of the buildings and moon.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of dark and light blues, leaving space for the clouds.
step 03
Paint the silhouette of the buildings using a dark, almost black, blue.
step 04
Add the horizontal bands of color representing the landscape, using greens, yellows, and reds.
step 05
Create the foreground with broken strokes of blues, greens, and browns to suggest texture and depth.
step 06
Paint the red moon with a thick layer of paint.
step 07
Add highlights and details with lighter blues and whites, focusing on the clouds and reflections.
step 08
Review and adjust the composition, adding final touches to balance the colors and values.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · sap green

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine blue and white. Create greens by mixing blue and yellow ochre. Use red straight from the tube for the moon.

techniques