plate no. 7718

Cover Design, For a Novel

gouache, paperSurrealismportraitportraitfigureskycometglasseslandscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering facial features and subtle skin tones, as well as practicing atmospheric perspective in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the portrait, landscape, and comet.
step 02
Block in the background sky with diluted washes of blue and violet, creating a cloudy effect.
step 03
Establish the base tones for the figure's skin, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to create depth and form in the face.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, glasses, mustache, and other facial features.
step 06
Paint the landscape in the foreground, using darker tones for the ground and lighter tones for the horizon.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing and add highlights.
step 08
Paint the comet with a bright yellow and white, adding a subtle trail.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · violet · raw sienna

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Achieve the cloudy sky effect by diluting the blue and violet with water and layering them.

techniques