plate no. 8196

Being

Sergey Belik, 1979

oilMagic Realismsymbolic paintingfigurestreeslandscapeskywaterapple

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in rendering figures with simple forms and creating atmospheric perspective with subtle color variations. Students can also learn to create texture through layering and stippling.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and trees.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: sky, water, and ground.
step 03
Establish the basic values for the figures' clothing and skin tones.
step 04
Begin adding details to the trees, using small, controlled brushstrokes.
step 05
Refine the figures' forms and add subtle shading to create depth.
step 06
Add the small details on the ground, like the dark spots and leaves.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values to create a sense of atmospheric perspective.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · sky blue · grass green · gray · white

secondary · brown · yellow ochre · black

Mix the sky blue by combining white with a touch of blue and a hint of gray. Create the grass green by mixing blue and yellow, then adding a touch of brown to tone it down. The figures' clothing is achieved by mixing white and black to create various shades of gray.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·stippling
·atmospheric perspective
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall simplicity of the composition.
→Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions between values.
→Ignoring the effects of atmospheric perspective and making distant objects too vibrant.
→Incorrect proportions of the figures.