plate no. 7204
Okhtyrka, autumn
Wassily Kandinsky, 1901
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes: the horizon line, the hill, the building, and the water.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the sky, the hill, the trees, and the water.
- step 03
Add darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
- step 04
Begin layering colors to create the variations in the trees and the water.
- step 05
Add details to the building and the reflections in the water.
- step 06
Refine the brushwork to capture the texture and energy of the painting.
- step 07
Add final highlights to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · sap green · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Create variations in the browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre, cadmium red, or ultramarine blue.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·wet-on-wet blending
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Making the reflections too literal and symmetrical.
- →Not simplifying the scene enough and getting bogged down in details.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·easel
- ·varnish
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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