plate no. 1874

Devil by the Pot

oilSymbolismsymbolic paintingdevilfiguresinteriorfireplacepotsmoke

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures with simplified forms and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides an opportunity to practice painting smoke and fire.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and figures, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background colors: the wood walls, floor, and fireplace.
step 03
Establish the main values for the figures, starting with the devil's skin tone.
step 04
Add details to the figures, such as facial features, clothing folds, and the devil's tail and horns.
step 05
Paint the pot and the smoke rising from it, using light and airy brushstrokes.
step 06
Add the fire in the fireplace, using warm colors and short, flickering strokes.
step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches, such as the window view.
step 08
Consider adding a thin wash of sepia or burnt umber to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · gray · brown · white

secondary · blue · red · yellow

Mix grays by combining black and white with small amounts of brown or blue. Achieve the skin tone of the devil by mixing gray with a touch of red and brown. The wood tones can be achieved by mixing different shades of brown with yellow and white.

techniques