plate no. 7902
Additivitée spatiale
Victor Brauner, 1956
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice color blocking, geometric composition, and creating texture with layering. It also encourages experimentation with color relationships and abstract representation.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch a grid of squares on the canvas.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the outline of the face within the grid, using the squares as a guide for proportion.
- step 03
Begin filling in the squares with the background colors, varying the shades slightly within each square.
- step 04
Paint the face using the color-blocked design, paying attention to the placement of each color.
- step 05
Add the details of the eyes and mouth.
- step 06
Create texture by layering paint and using dry brushing techniques.
- step 07
Add subtle dark lines to define the edges of the squares and facial features.
- step 08
Allow to dry completely.
color palette
primary · yellow · red · blue · green
secondary · pink · orange · brown · turquoise
Achieve the various shades by mixing primary colors with white or small amounts of complementary colors. Use a limited palette to maintain harmony.
techniques
- ·color blocking
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·geometric abstraction
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors and creating muddy tones.
- →Making the grid lines too prominent.
- →Not varying the colors enough within the squares.
- →Losing the overall composition by focusing too much on individual details.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·water
- ·pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for better texture. Acrylics are recommended for faster drying time, but oils can also be used.
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