plate no. 4940
Desarrollo de Yi Ching
Xul Solar, 1953
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in value-based painting and creating surreal compositions with symbolic elements. They will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition lightly on the paper.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of black and white, establishing the overall value structure.
- step 03
Begin to refine the shapes of the figures and architectural elements.
- step 04
Add details to the figures, such as clothing and facial features.
- step 05
Create the water texture with horizontal brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add the symbolic elements and details.
- step 07
Refine the edges and add highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 08
Add final details and touch-ups.
color palette
primary · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · payne's gray
Mix shades of gray by varying the ratio of black and white. Use Payne's Gray to add a cool tone to some areas.
techniques
- ·value painting
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overcomplicating the initial sketch.
- →Using too much paint and losing the details.
- →Not establishing a clear value structure.
- →Getting lost in the details before establishing the overall composition.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Tempera paints (black and white)
- ·Watercolor paper
- ·Round brushes (various sizes)
- ·Flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
- ·Pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·ruler
- ·kneaded eraser
Use high-quality tempera paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various textures.
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