plate no. 3534

Trees on the Shore

Edvard Munch, 1904

oil, canvasExpressionismlandscapetreesshoreseaskyfiguresbuilding

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice expressive brushwork and learn to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and colors. It also provides an opportunity to experiment with color mixing to achieve the desired mood and atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the trees, shoreline, and buildings.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the sky, sea, and land using thin washes.
step 03
Add darker values to define the shapes of the trees and create depth in the landscape.
step 04
Introduce secondary colors to create variations in the foliage and ground.
step 05
Develop the details of the building and figures on the shore, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights to the trees and water to create a sense of light and atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the brushwork and add any final details to enhance the expressive quality of the painting.
step 08
Allow to dry and add a varnish layer.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Yellow · Crimson Red · Burnt Umber

secondary · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White · Viridian Green

Mix blues and reds for the sky and sea, adding white to lighten the tones. Use yellow and blue to create greens for the foliage, and mix browns and reds for the tree trunks and ground.

techniques

·Impasto
·Dry brushing
·Color layering
·Expressive brushstrokes
·Scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the painting.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Not capturing the overall mood and atmosphere of the scene.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Crimson Red, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Viridian Green)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags