plate no. 9365

Funeral Symphony (VI)

Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, 1903

pastel, paperSymbolismsymbolic paintinglandscapemountainsfiguresskypatharchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors with pastels to create depth and texture, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to suggest distance.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the mountains, path, and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with a base layer of blue pastel, blending for a smooth transition.
step 03
Add darker blues and purples to the upper sky and lighter blues towards the horizon to create depth.
step 04
Layer greens and yellows onto the mountains and path, varying the pressure to create texture.
step 05
Use darker greens and browns to define the shadows and contours of the mountains.
step 06
Add small strokes of yellow to the path and figures to suggest light.
step 07
Define the figures with dark blue and brown pastels, using vertical strokes.
step 08
Refine details and blend colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Emerald Green · Yellow Ochre

secondary · Burnt Umber · Violet · White

Mix blues and greens to create various shades of green for the mountains. Use yellow ochre and white to create highlights on the path and figures. Mix burnt umber and violet for the darker areas.

techniques