plate no. 3158

The road (theme from Nussdorf)

Richard Gerstl, 1907

oilExpressionismlandscapelandscapetreesroadskybuildingstelephone pole

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in layering colors and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. Students will learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and color blocks.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition: horizon line, road, buildings, and telephone poles.
step 02
Block in the sky with light gray and white, using short, choppy strokes.
step 03
Establish the overall color scheme of the landscape with a thin wash of green and yellow.
step 04
Add darker values to define the shadows in the trees and road.
step 05
Layer in the foliage with dabs of yellow, green, and brown, varying the pressure to create texture.
step 06
Paint the buildings with muted blues and grays, suggesting form with subtle value changes.
step 07
Define the road with light beige and white, adding shadows to indicate the ruts and texture.
step 08
Add final details, such as highlights on the leaves and details on the telephone poles.