plate no. 9177
Roter Abend - Blaue Berge
Alexej von Jawlensky, 1910
suitable for beginners
This painting is great for learning about simplifying shapes and using expressive color. Students will practice layering colors and creating a sense of depth with simplified forms.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 5 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, house, and trees using light pencil lines.
- step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of orange paint.
- step 03
Paint the mountains with blue and purple, varying the hues slightly.
- step 04
Add the house using pink and red tones, paying attention to the roofline.
- step 05
Paint the field with green, adding variations of light and dark.
- step 06
Add the trees with dark brown and purple, using visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the details and edges, softening some areas and sharpening others.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.
color palette
primary · orange · blue · green · pink
secondary · red · purple · brown
Mix various shades of green by combining blue and yellow. Create purple by mixing red and blue, and adjust the intensity with white or black.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·layering
- ·expressive brushstrokes
- ·color mixing
- ·simplification
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Creating muddy colors by over-blending.
- →Not varying the brushstrokes enough.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas 12x16
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil or acrylic medium
- ·Odorless mineral spirits or water
optional
- ·easel
- ·painting knife
- ·retarder medium
Use a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
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