plate no. 6406

The Girls on the Bridge

Edvard Munch, 1901

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresbridgewatertreesbuildingssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand simplified forms and color relationships to create mood, and practice loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the bridge, figures, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of color: sky, water, trees, and buildings.
step 03
Establish the basic values in each area, creating a sense of light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the figures, bridge, and buildings, using loose brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the colors and values, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 06
Create the reflections in the water, mirroring the shapes and colors above.
step 07
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White · Cadmium Red

secondary · Sap Green · Burnt Umber

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Use white to lighten colors and create variations in tone. Mix browns and grays with umber, blue, and white.

techniques

·Impasto
·Scumbling
·Color layering
·Simplified forms
·Expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of light and shadow.
→Not simplifying the forms enough.

materials

surface · Stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 12x16
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Sap Green, Burnt Umber)
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags