plate no. 1144

Amenitats de la vida quotidiana

Angel Planells, 1976

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingportraitchess pieceorigamibutterflywindowlandscapetable

experienced study

Recreating this painting would help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures and creating surreal compositions. It also provides practice in depicting complex lighting and reflections on various surfaces.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of each object.
step 02
Block in the main colors of the background, table, and major objects.
step 03
Begin refining the portrait, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 04
Develop the details of the chess piece and origami, paying attention to their form and shadows.
step 05
Paint the butterfly and other smaller elements, adding intricate details.
step 06
Create the window scene with the landscape, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
step 07
Add highlights and reflections to enhance the realism of the objects.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to achieve a cohesive and surreal effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix various shades of blue and umber to create the dark background. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix crimson and white for the pink chess piece.

techniques