plate no. 4244

Birth of the Earth

Nina Tokhtaman Valetova, 2018

oilMagic Realismsymbolic paintingfacelandscapemountainsskyabstractportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color blocking, abstracting forms, and creating smooth gradients between colors. It also provides practice in layering colors to achieve depth and visual interest.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and outlines of the composition, focusing on the placement of the face and landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with flat, opaque layers of paint, using a limited palette of primary and secondary colors.
step 03
Begin blending the edges of the color blocks to create smooth transitions and gradients.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 05
Refine the landscape elements, adding details to the mountains, sky, and other features.
step 06
Layer colors to create depth and dimension, using darker shades for shadows and lighter shades for highlights.
step 07
Add any final details or adjustments to the painting, such as subtle color variations or textural effects.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely before varnishing.

color palette

primary · red · yellow · green · teal

secondary · brown · dark green

Mix greens by combining yellow and teal. Create darker shades by adding brown or dark green to the primary colors. Achieve smooth color transitions by gradually blending adjacent colors.

techniques