plate no. 7670
Death Awaiting his Family
Yves Tanguy, 1927
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending colors to create atmospheric perspective and rendering surreal, dreamlike forms with subtle shading. It also encourages experimentation with composition and creating a sense of depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, tower, and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the sky with light blue, blending towards the horizon.
- step 03
Paint the ground with a base of brown, gradually darkening towards the bottom.
- step 04
Add the tower using white and gray, paying attention to the subtle shading.
- step 05
Paint the cloud formations in the foreground using dark browns and grays, blending for a soft effect.
- step 06
Add the abstract figures and shapes with light colors, defining their forms with subtle shadows.
- step 07
Include the small details like the falling dots and thin lines in the sky.
- step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Achieve the sky color by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white, adding a touch of yellow ochre for warmth. The ground color is primarily raw umber, lightened with yellow ochre and darkened with ivory black. The figures are created with a mix of titanium white and small amounts of other colors for subtle variations.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering abstract forms
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through value and color changes.
- →Making the figures too defined, losing the dreamlike quality.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the sky and ground.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a glazing medium to enhance the depth and luminosity of the colors.
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