plate no. 7851

Rote Dächer

Otto Mueller, 1929

temperaExpressionismlandscapelandscapebuildingstreesrivervillagesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using broken color to create texture and depth. It also provides practice in creating a sense of atmospheric perspective through subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, trees, and river, paying attention to their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin wash of pale purple/gray.
step 03
Establish the dark masses of the trees using a mix of green, brown, and black.
step 04
Paint the roofs of the buildings with a mix of red and brown, varying the tones slightly to create interest.
step 05
Add the lighter tones of the buildings using white mixed with a touch of blue or yellow.
step 06
Paint the river with a mix of white, blue, and gray, using horizontal brushstrokes to suggest the flow of water.
step 07
Add details to the trees and foliage using short, broken brushstrokes of various greens and yellows.
step 08
Refine the details of the buildings and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · green · red · white · brown

secondary · yellow · blue · gray · purple

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows with varying amounts of brown or black. Achieve the roof color by mixing red with burnt sienna and a touch of white. The sky is a pale purple/gray, mixed from white, purple, and a touch of brown.

techniques

·broken color
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·simplified shapes
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplicity of the original.
→Making the colors too saturated and bright.
→Not paying attention to the relative sizes and positions of the elements in the composition.
→Creating too much contrast and losing the overall harmony of the painting.