plate no. 1039

Small Traunsee Landscape

Richard Gerstl, 1907

oilExpressionismlandscapetreeslandscapeskyfoliagemountainswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It also encourages simplification of forms and capturing the essence of a landscape.

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 landscape: mountains, water, trees.
step 02
Establish the sky area with broad strokes of blue and white, blending slightly.
step 03
Block in the general areas of green for the foliage, varying the shades.
step 04
Add darker greens and browns to create depth and shadows within the foliage.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to suggest individual leaves and branches.
step 06
Introduce touches of yellow and orange to represent highlights and sunlight.
step 07
Refine the shapes of the trees and add details to the foreground.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall impression.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Yellow · Emerald Green

secondary · Titanium White · Burnt Umber · Cadmium Orange

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, and vary the shades by adding white, umber, or orange. Use white to lighten blues for the sky and water.

techniques

·Impasto
·Broken Color
·Wet-on-wet blending
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to vary the shades of green and creating a flat, monotonous landscape.
→Not simplifying the forms and trying to represent every detail.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x12 or similar)
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Emerald Green, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Orange)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags