plate no. 8417

The Wolves (Balkan War)

Franz Marc, 1913

oil, canvasCubismsymbolic paintingwolveslandscapeanimalsabstractwar

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color theory and how to use color to convey emotion. It will also develop skills in simplifying complex forms into geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the wolves and the overall landscape structure.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, using simplified shapes to represent the forms.
step 03
Start with the background colors, working from light to dark.
step 04
Mix and apply the colors for the wolves, paying attention to the color relationships and contrasts.
step 05
Add details and refine the shapes of the wolves and the landscape.
step 06
Use bold brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Yellow ochre

secondary · Emerald green · Violet · Black

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre and prussian blue. Create variations of violet by mixing red and blue. Use black sparingly to darken colors.

techniques

·Color blocking
·Impasto
·Geometric abstraction
·Expressive brushwork
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the simplified, abstract quality.
→Using colors that are too saturated or bright, which can detract from the overall mood.
→Not paying attention to the color relationships, which can make the painting look disjointed.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Cadmium red, Yellow ochre, Emerald green, Violet, Black, Titanium white)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags