plate no. 1883

Flight of the Soul

Israel Tsvaygenbaum, 2006

oilMagic Realismsymbolic paintingfigurebirdcityscapearchitectureskyfantasy

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve luminous effects and practice creating detailed architectural elements with consistent perspective. It also provides an opportunity to explore imaginative and symbolic themes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, bird, and cityscape.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the sky and background.
step 03
Establish the basic shapes and values of the buildings, paying attention to perspective.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features.
step 05
Paint the bird, focusing on its form and color variations.
step 06
Develop the figure, paying attention to anatomy and expression.
step 07
Add the decorative elements around the figure, using a fine brush.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow · blue · red · white

secondary · green · orange · brown

Achieve the luminous yellows and oranges by layering thin glazes. Mix blues with white for the bird, and add touches of purple and green for depth. Use browns and reds for the rooftops, varying the tones for realism.

techniques