plate no. 6012

Fata Alaska

Wolfgang Paalen, 1937

oilSurrealismlandscapelandscapetowersskygroundabstract forms

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and texture, and in abstracting natural forms into surreal compositions. It also encourages experimentation with different brushstrokes to achieve varied textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, the towers, and the general shapes of the ground.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of light blue, gradually adding darker blues and hints of green towards the horizon.
step 03
Paint the towers with a mix of white, gray, and subtle blues, focusing on creating a textured surface with vertical strokes.
step 04
Establish the ground plane with a base of white, adding shadows to define the forms.
step 05
Begin layering the ground details with greens, browns, and yellows, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add the abstract forms in the foreground with a mix of dark greens, browns, and hints of blue and purple.
step 07
Refine the details of the towers and ground, adding highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired surreal effect.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · sap green · payne's gray · yellow ochre

Mix blues and whites for the sky, adding small amounts of green for the lower areas. Use raw umber and white for the towers, and mix greens, browns, and yellows for the ground. Use Payne's gray to darken colors.

techniques