plate no. 3761

Casement to Infinity

Leon Underwood, 1930

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingskullbutterflyseascapecloudsstill lifearchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating surreal compositions and rendering various textures like clouds, water, and bone. It will also improve their understanding of perspective and spatial relationships.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to the placement and proportions of the major elements (skull, shell, egg, pipe, window frames, landscape).
step 02
Establish the horizon line and the geometric shapes in the background (triangles).
step 03
Block in the main colors of the sky, sea, and land, using thin washes.
step 04
Develop the values and details of the still life objects, focusing on light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the landscape elements, including the cliffs, building, and reflections.
step 06
Refine the clouds, paying attention to their shapes and the subtle variations in color.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the butterfly on the skull and the spider.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · payne's gray

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, and burnt sienna. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky and sea, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Create the butterfly with yellow ochre and white.

techniques