plate no. 2626

Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city

Paul Werner, 1985

lithography, print, paperExpressionismcityscapebuildingsboatstreeswatercityscapewinter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive mark-making and understanding of value relationships in a limited palette. It also encourages simplification of complex scenes into basic shapes and lines.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of buildings, boats, and trees.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting using bold, confident strokes.
step 03
Add mid-tones by varying the pressure and density of your marks.
step 04
Use lighter, more delicate strokes to create highlights and areas of snow.
step 05
Develop the texture of the trees and buildings with short, broken lines.
step 06
Refine the details, paying attention to the direction and weight of each stroke.
step 07
Add subtle variations in tone to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and harmony of the painting, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Varying the pressure of the pencil or charcoal will create different shades of gray. Use white of the paper for highlights.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·scumbling
·dry brush
·expressive linework

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the original.
→Creating overly uniform tones and failing to establish a strong value contrast.
→Being too timid with your marks and not fully committing to the expressive style.
→Ignoring the underlying structure and simplifying the forms too much.