plate no. 5978

St. Mary's with Houses and Chimney (Bonn)

August Macke, 1911

oil, canvasExpressionismcityscapebuildingscityscapechimneyskychurchhouses

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and understanding how to use color to create depth and form. It also provides practice in expressive brushwork and capturing the essence of a scene rather than precise detail.

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 and composition of the buildings, chimney, and church tower.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, buildings, and ground using diluted paint.
step 03
Begin to define the shapes of the buildings and roofs with slightly darker or lighter values of the base colors.
step 04
Add details such as windows and architectural elements, using a smaller brush.
step 05
Introduce the darker outlines to define the edges of the buildings and create contrast.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to create depth and interest.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish layer for protection.

color palette

primary · red · blue · yellow · white

secondary · green · orange · brown

Mix various shades of red and orange for the buildings. Use blue and white for the sky, and mix greens for the ground. Vary the intensity of colors by adding white or complementary colors.

techniques