plate no. 8444

Barreras Melódicas

Xul Solar, 1948

oilSurrealismlandscapemountainsbuildingsfiguresladdersskypathways

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating depth through color and value changes, as well as practicing precise line work for architectural elements. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic geometric shapes.

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 of the mountains and buildings, focusing on their placement and proportions.
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
step 03
Block in the sky with a light wash of color, blending from yellow to pink.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the mountains, starting with a base of burnt sienna and gradually adding darker and lighter shades to create form.
step 05
Paint the buildings with a neutral gray, adding shadows to define their structure.
step 06
Carefully paint the ladders and pathways, paying attention to perspective.
step 07
Add the figures in blue, keeping them simple and stylized.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · gray · yellow · blue

secondary · pink · purple · white

Mix different shades of brown by combining burnt sienna with small amounts of black, white, or purple. Create the sky by blending yellow and pink, adding white for highlights.

techniques