plate no. 4029

The Church of St. Mary in Bonn in Snow

August Macke, 1911

oil, canvasExpressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingssnowchurchrooftopschimneys

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into geometric forms and understanding color temperature variations in shadows and highlights, especially in snow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and the horizon line, focusing on their relative sizes and positions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the buildings, sky, and snow, using simplified, flat tones.
step 03
Add darker tones to define shadows and create depth on the buildings and rooftops.
step 04
Introduce subtle color variations within the snow to indicate reflected light and shadows.
step 05
Paint the details of the chimneys, windows, and other architectural elements with simple shapes.
step 06
Add the bare trees and fence in the foreground with thin, dark lines.
step 07
Refine the edges of the shapes and adjust the colors as needed to match the original painting's mood.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · sap green · ivory black

Mix white with small amounts of blue and umber for the sky and snow shadows. Use yellow and umber for the building tones, adding sienna for warmth and blue for coolness.

techniques