plate no. 7701

Danger on the Stairs

Pierre Roy, 1928

oilSurrealisminteriorstairsdoorsnakeinteriorwoodwall

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures like wood and snake scales, as well as understanding subtle color variations for creating depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the stairs, door, and snake, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the background wall color with a thin wash of muted yellow-green.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the door and stairs, focusing on their overall tone and value.
step 04
Start layering details on the door, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 05
Begin working on the snake, mapping out the pattern and colors of its scales.
step 06
Refine the details of the stairs, including the railing and the carpet pattern.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the snake to give it a three-dimensional form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining raw umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use small amounts of black and red to create darker and warmer tones.

techniques