plate no. 2408

Walled City in Autumn Landscape

Wassily Kandinsky, 1902

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)cityscapecityscapebuildingstreeslandscapeskyautumn

suitable for beginners

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and using a limited color palette to create a harmonious composition. Students will also learn to create depth through color and line variation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the city walls, hills, and foreground.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: yellow for the fields, blue for the sky, and green for the foreground.
step 03
Add the white of the city walls and buildings, keeping the lines clean and simple.
step 04
Paint the details of the trees, varying the colors and shapes.
step 05
Add the smaller details like the birds, roads, and small buildings.
step 06
Refine the colors and shapes, paying attention to the overall balance of the composition.
step 07
Add final touches and details with thin lines.
step 08
Allow to dry and varnish if desired.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · viridian green · gray

Mix yellow ochre with small amounts of burnt sienna to create the various shades of orange and brown for the trees. Use white to lighten the blue for the sky and clouds.

techniques